Mayo board rubber-stamps new Horan deal

James Horan’s term as Mayo manager was officially extended to 2015 at a county board meeting in Castlebar last night.

Board chairman Paddy McNicholas told the meeting that he and secretary Kevin O’Toole met with Horan last week. The board’s executive offered the Ballintubber man a further two years in addition to the 12 months that still have to run on his original three-year deal.

That recommendation went before club delegates last night and was formally proposed, seconded and ratified on a show of hands. No voices were raised in dissent and the decision took only a very short part of a 90-minute meeting.

But questions were raised about the impact of the county team on club fixtures. Kilmaine delegate Kevin McDonnell said a decision “will have to be made” about the clash given the delay in playing certain club fixtures. He noted that some clubs still have six league matches remaining, a situation he described as “madness”.