GAELIC GAMES: John Maughan stepped down as Mayo manager yesterday without the much-coveted All-Ireland title despite three September trips to Croke Park. His selectors, George Golden and Liam McHale, also handed in their resignations to the county board despite two years of the current term outstanding.
The Maughan management ticket felt they could not take Mayo any further after a heavy defeat to Kerry last Sunday in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. Although they only trailed by three points at the finish, five late scores covered up a significant gulf in class.
In many respects they have regressed from last year's All-Ireland final appearance, when Kerry again overwhelmed them, as they surrendered the Connacht title to Galway on July 10th.
"We discussed our future on Sunday night, yesterday and again this morning," said Golden. "We are stepping down en bloc. It has taken a massive effort over the last three years as we came in with the sole purpose of winning an All-Ireland. We didn't do that but I still feel we are leaving Mayo football in a healthy state."
The management did not tell the players of their decision and only informed county board chairman Seán Feeney at 3pm yesterday. "Managers come and go but it boils down to the players you have at your disposal," said Feeney. "We are still short a few quality players in key positions and until we can sort that out we will continue to struggle against the best."
Regardless of the three All-Ireland final defeats (1996, 1997 and 2004), Maughan's managerial record is sure to attract suitors as he guided Clare to a Munster title in 1992 and took over Fermanagh for a year before returning for a second stint with Mayo.
Meanwhile, Dublin football manager Paul Caffrey has named the same team that started the Leinster final against Laois ahead of their quarter-final meeting with 2003 All-Ireland champions Tyrone this Saturday.
Captain Paddy Christie has recovered from a hamstring strain that ruled him out of the Leinster final after just 18 minutes to retain the full-back slot. The only change sees Derek Byrne replace Denis Bastic amongst the replacements.
Tyrone will select a team tomorrow night when they hope to include Ryan McMenamin, who goes before the disputes resolution authority tonight in the hope of overturning a four-week suspension.
Cork hurling manager John Allen has also resisted temptation to change his team ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final against Clare on Sunday. The half forward line was under pressure after a poor day against Waterford when Niall and Timmy McCarthy were replaced by Niall Ronan and Kieran Murphy.
However, Allen has brought Kieran Murphy back to right-wing forward with last year's captain Ben O'Connor redeployed to the corner alongside Brian Corcoran and Joe Deane.
There are just two changes from the team that registered a convincing victory over Wexford in last year's semi-final.
John Gardiner, who missed out last year due to injury, features on the half back line while Pat Mulcahy holds off Wayne Sherlock's challenge at corner back.
Clare may not announce a team until Friday evening. The panel only reconvene for training tonight.
Joe McKenna was last night reappointed as manager of the Limerick senior hurling team for a two-year period. There was anonymous approval from the full Limerick County Board. His selectors will be announced at the September meeting.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P Griffin, P Christie, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cahill, C Goggins; C Whelan, S Ryan; C Moran, A Brogan, B Cullen; J Sherlock, C Keaney, T Quinn.
CORK: D Cusack; P Mulcahy, D O'Sullivan, B Murphy; J Gardiner, R Curran, S Ó hAilpín T Kenny, J O'Connor; K Murphy (Sarsfields), N McCarthy, T McCarthy; B O'Connor, B Corcoran, J Deane.
