John Maughan has resigned as manager of the Mayo football team following a meeting with officers of the county board yesterday. Maughan indicated he made his decision in light of last Sunday's defeat by Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In a statement issued to local radio on behalf of Maughan by the county board, he expressed his thanks to the team and the Mayo supporters for their support over the four years of his tenure.
He had the full support of his family to stay on, he added, but decided he was stepping down immediately. He said the biggest disappointment of his tenure was his failure to win an All-Ireland and after Sunday's defeat he felt he had brought the team as far as he could.
Maughan, who played under-21 and senior with Mayo, had a promising career cut short when he picked up a serious knee injury. He took his first managerial post in Clare, a county he brought to a Munster title in 1992.
It was always his wish to manage Mayo and he was appointed with fellow selectors Peter Forde and Tommy O'Malley in 1995. A year layer he guided Mayo from Division Two of the National Football League to an All-Ireland final with Meath, a title Mayo lost in a replay. Mayo also unsuccessfully contested the final against Kerry the following year. Maughan resigned from the army earlier this year to head the Civil Defence in Mayo and he also owns a public house in Westport.
The Mayo county board will meet next Monday to consider their next move.
Scuffles during a club game in Sligo has led to tough disciplinary action being taken against a women's football team. The St Michael's/St Mary's Club has been expelled from the championship by the county board following incidents at a junior A championship game this month.
Gardai were called to the game at Ballintogher where it is alleged that male supporters of the St Michael's/St Mary's team subjected players and mentors of the opposing St Nathy's team to verbal and physical abuse. St Michael's/St Mary's were fined £500 and have also been ordered to forfeit home ground advantage for the remainder of 1999 and during the year 2000. It is understood that the St Michael's/St Mary's Club will appeal the board's decision.
