Mickey Moran's first term reviewed: The Mayo county executive will meet Mickey Moran and John Morrison next week to review their first season in charge of the county footballers which ended in a 13-point defeat to Kerry in the All-Ireland final.

The management team, which includes Kieran Gallagher, was installed for a two-year term but county board secretary Seán Feeney confirmed yesterday this arrangement was always going to be reviewed after the first season.

The day after the All-Ireland final defeat, Feeney said he expected Moran to remain on as manager.

Yesterday, however, he refused to repeat such definitive comments.

"Mickey is not due back until early next week so nothing can happen until then. I don't expect any ratification's until the November county board meeting, as management positions at all age grades are up for review.

"I will not be commenting further on the situation."

Moran came into conflict with the county board in mid-summer over the scheduling of club fixtures during the championship.

"The management walked out on a county training session but returned the same week.

"Myself and Mickey met briefly but it would be unfair to comment until we meet with the county board next week," said Morrison yesterday.

"No decision has been made as of yet but we were hired for a three-year post. Of course, every county has to go through the process of review, where praise and challenges will naturally come up. When all that dies down a clearer picture will emerge."

The review may go something like this: The Moran-Morrison ticket arrived from Moran's native Derry last winter after guiding them to an All-Ireland semi-final in 2004.

There followed a decent league campaign that ended in the semi-final defeat to Galway before revenge was exacted in an error-ridden Connacht final.

Laois, and Mick O'Dwyer's managerial odyssey, were brought to a halt by a momentum-building Mayo team and their under-performing reputation on the big stage seemed to be dismissed for good in the All-Ireland semi-final.

Turning around a seven-point deficit to beat Dublin installed them as genuine contenders to deny Kerry a 34th All-Ireland title.

However, the Dublin performance proved the peak, as they were humiliated, despite scoring three goals, in a poor final.

"Mayo can look back on this now in a positive way," continued Morrison.

"I learned a lot during the year and relished the opportunity to get involved with these players. In fact, I was honoured to be a part of the All-Ireland final day. It makes you want to get back to that point."

Moran and Morrison have not made the 300-mile round trip to Mayo since but they are expected to attend the county championship semi-finals and finals, which indicates a willingness to stay on for at least another season.

"Thank God, the players had the club championship as it was something else to preoccupy their minds after the final."