Holmes opts to call it a day

Gaelic Games: Mayo are the latest county searching for a new manager with the announcement yesterday that Pat Holmes would not be going forward for another term with the senior footballers.

Holmes had three years in charge with mixed fortunes, the highlight being last year with Mayo's first National League title since 1970.

However, this season was a huge disappointment as Mayo narrowly fell to Galway in the Connacht championship semi-final, and then struggled on to the quarter-finals where they fell to Cork.

Holmes had been in the running for reappointment, yet informed the county board on Tuesday night that he didn't want to be considered, partly citing work commitments as he'd just been promoted to a senior bank management position.

On Monday night, however, the county board had already appointed a 12-man committee to examine the future of the Mayo management positions. The committee consists of county chairman PJ McGrath, secretary Seán Feeney, treasurer JP Lambe, vice-chairman Paddy Naughton and PRO Kevin O'Toole. They are joined by development officers, divisional board chairman and club delegates.

The committee is expected to report back to the October meeting of the county board with recommendations for managers for all three teams (minor, under-21 and senior). There is also talk of the under-21 and senior jobs being given to the one person.

Among those most likely to be targeted is former manager John Maughan, who spent a season with Fermanagh after Mayo and currently works with the club side Crossmolina. His success there, however, may make it difficult to tempt him back to the county set-up.

Meanwhile, the Mayo women's team have made one change for Sunday's All-Ireland final against Monaghan at Croke Park. Edel Reilly replaces Rachel Barrett at midfield, the only change in personnel from the side that defeated Dublin in the semi-final.

MAYO (Women's SF v Monaghan): D Horan; N O'Shea, H Lohan, MT Garvey; C O'Hara, Y Byrne, E Biggins; C Egan, E Reilly; J Moran, E Mullin, M Heffernan; C McDermott, C Heffernan, C Staunton.