Liam McHale makes peace with exit, backs Mayo for All-Ireland

Former Mayo coach Liam McHale during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 2 match between Mayo and Louth at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

New Mayo ladies boss Liam McHale insists stepping away from the men's setup last summer was the right thing to do.

The former All-Star quit brother-in-law Kevin McStay's management team after just one season.

He then went for the Mayo ladies manager's job and while he acknowledged some 'anxious moments' in what was a 'drawn out' process, he eventually landed the role last week.

McHale's only previous comment on his exit from the men's backroom was that the rest of McStay's setup had 'a totally different philosophy on how this team should play than what I had'.

McHale added at the time that he was 'surprised at Kevin because normally we would be in sync'.

Months later, McHale has now conceded that the situation was awkward given his family ties with McStay but he said he is still happy with his decision.

"You've friends there and you get to know people, you'd love to stay in that group but if it's not for you, it's not for you," McHale told MidWest Radio. "I said at the time that I didn't want to be moping around the place holding fellas back or players saying, 'Jeez, what's wrong with himself?' I felt at the time it was the right thing to do and it definitely was.

"It was a tough decision, there's no question about it. I really enjoyed getting to know the boys. I haven't said much about this but they're an absolutely unbelievable bunch. I had no idea...I knew they were committed but I had no idea how committed these fellas are and how just everything...like, there's no weaknesses in regard how they prep, how they carry themselves, how they behave and I do believe they're still one of the best teams in the country and I do believe this group can win an All-Ireland.

"Last year we just weren't going well in the Championship, had a great league campaign obviously, but just weren't going well in the Championship and we fell short.

"I think a good pre-season and a solid league campaign... I don't know if we need to put as much emphasis on the league, this particular group. Then I think we'll be hard to beat next year."

On his decision to leave, McHale said he has made peace with it.

"You think about things, you make a decision and you move on," he said. "You can't be dwelling on it but I'm very happy with the position I find myself in with the group of people that I'm with."

McHale, who previously managed the Belmullet and Athlone men's teams, and coached St Brigid's, Cavan and Roscommon, has now stepped into his first ladies football management role.

He has replaced Michael Moyles as Mayo ladies manager for a three-year term though the appointment process was far from straightforward.

McHale was initially recommended for the role following an interview only for the Mayo LGFA board to reject the recommendation by a secret ballot.

McHale later reapplied for the position and eventually got it.

"It was drawn out and there were some anxious moments at times," he said. "I understand that, I'm a long time around. Not everybody would be, or can be, happy with my management team and the setup. I understand that these things kind of can happen. It was a little bit too long, it was a bit drawn out a little bit too much but it's very important that the county board get the decision right."

Mayo have reached the semi-finals of the ladies Championship for the last three seasons.

McHale refused to offer any guarantees of success and said his sole focus will be on making them 'the toughest, smartest, hardest working team in the country'.

"These are elite athletes," he said. "They're the exact same as the Mayo senior men's team. They want to get better and they want to succeed and to win. For me, that's the main thing."