Colm Boyle: Bringing someone in from Galway just doesn't sit right with me

'DOESN'T SIT RIGHT': Colm Boyle. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Four-time All-Star Colm Boyle has questioned the decision to add Corofin’s Joe Canney to the Mayo senior football management team for 2024.

Canney was an All-Ireland winner in 2015 with the Galway club under Stephen Rochford and later formed part of Kevin O’Brien’s ticket as they completed a historic All-Ireland club three-in-a-row. He coached Galway intermediate side St Brendan’s this season.

He joins Kevin McStay’s team after Liam McHale stepped down earlier this year. Speaking on the Mayo Football Podcast, Boyle said he was shocked at the news.

“My initial thoughts, I am surprised and I find it strange, probably on two fronts. Number one, obviously Liam McHale stepped away and I remember you asked me a couple of weeks later did I think he would be replaced; my initial thoughts were that he probably wasn't going to be replaced.

"My feelings were that with Donie Buckley, Stephen Rochford, who I know well from coaching me over the years, and Damien Mulligan there, I would have felt that there was enough expertise there and that those boys have the skill set and the know-how on coaching the Mayo team.

"So bringing in an extra person into that surprised me number one.” 

Boyle, who retired in 2021 after a 14-year career, was also part of the backroom team with the Mayo minors who won a Connacht title this season.

“Then number two, and absolutely nothing against Joe Canney at all, I don't know the man personally.

"I obviously knew him as a player for Corofin and what he has done since in a coaching sense, I am extremely surprised that it is him that they've gone for. Maybe it is because I'm from the border, I don't know what it is, but bringing someone in from Galway just doesn't sit right with me into a Mayo set-up.

"I just feel like that if they were going for a younger, up-and-coming coach, why not look inside our own county? Why go over the border and pick someone from Galway, who let's be honest, probably sees this as a stepping stone to getting into the Galway set-up in a couple of years' time."