LAST UPDATE | 18 Jan 2021
FORMER FOOTBALLER OF the Year Andy Moran has made his first major step into management by taking charge of his native Ballaghaderreen.
And he will be joined on the management ticket by Mayo’s former U21 All-Ireland winning boss Mike Solan as the pair try to guide their home club to their first county title since both of them were on the squad in 2012, although Moran missed the final against Ballintubber through a cruciate knee injury.
That was only the club’s third Mayo title with Moran and Solan key members of the team which bridged a 36-year gap when they triumphed against Charlestown in 2008.
Moran, who retired from inter-county football in 2019, helped Solan in a coaching capacity with the Mayo U20s last season and the pair have now taken over from Paul McHugh, who stepped down before Christmas after four seasons in charge of the club on the Mayo-Roscommon border.
Moran, who won the 2017 Footballer of the Year at 34 years of age, will be hoping to make an immediate impact on the sideline after a playing career which spanned 17 seasons for Mayo and which saw him win eight Connacht medals and finish runner-up in five All-Ireland finals, having missed the 2012 loss to Donegal through injury.
Meanwhile, another former Mayo footballer who has stepped up to inter-county management for the first time said that Covid is making it difficult for those in charge of underage sides for the first time.
Maurice Sheridan has built up management experience with NUIG and the Salthill-Knocknacarra side in Galway which he captained to All-Ireland club glory in 2006 and will now be hoping to make an impact with the Mayo U-20 side where he has taken over as manager from Solan.
Sheridan, a teacher at Coláiste Bhaile Chláir in Galway and who will be joined on the management team by another Mayo player Peadar Gardiner, said he is looking forward to the challenge but obviously had to deal with Covid restrictions.
“It’s the hardest part of it. Ideally, you’d love to be up in MacHale Park for trials. But it can’t happen at the moment in reality,” he told Midwest Radio.
“The backroom team, we spent the last few days talking about the panel and the core members. The trials will happen. We are looking forward to it and we can’t wait to get going.”
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R.I.P. gone to that Grandstand in the sky.
The voice of many moments of sports history.
To be honest A question of Sport was never the same without him when he left .
Class Commentator with a strong Irish connection – called some great and famous events – set such a high standard for his craft !
A fantastic voice to listen to,one of those unique ones that you would pick out in an instant without seeing a face. may he RIP.Ya kinda know you’re getting old yourself when you remember all these fantastic commentators from the pre SKY Sports era,the likes of Dickie Davis,John Motson,Jimmy Hill,Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves. Used to love the Saint and Greavsie show,ah happy memories come flooding back to simpler times. I’ll finish with one of his legendary gaffes,made me smile,hope it does the same for you. “And here’s Moses Kiptanui – the 19-year-old Kenyan who turned 20 a few weeks ago”.
Don’t forget oul harry carpenter. .another with a remarkably distinctive voice.
And Bill Mc Laren, and Peter O Sullivan. The BBC produced sone great commentators.
RIP shur we all grew up with him.
He was a great commentator, he could make a boring match exciting.
My dad says he remembers watching a program in 1964 called sportsnight on BBC and the TV picture was very fuzzy the host was David Coleman.
A word way over used these days but he is a true legend
Class act. R.I.P.
RIP another ledgendary BBC commentator….
His name lives on in Colmanballs at the Private Eye
Very distinctive commentator. Reminded me of Brian Moore, another class act.
The BBC/ITV have been blessed with some great commentators down through the years, Dan Maskell, David Coleman, Brian Moore, Ted Lowe, John Motson, Barry Davies, David Vine, Tony Gubba, and Murray Walker to name a few. David Coleman was one of the greats, and is yet another one of the great commentators now no longer with us, may he rest in peace. Finally for those who know their commentators, this is a list of the top ten commentators of all time as voted by readers of the Daily Mail in 2009.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1131862/THE-LIST-10-1-favourite-sports-commentators-time.html.
Grandstand on Saturday was brilliant,a great commentator,rest In peace.
“Don’t tell those coming in on the final result of that fantastic match, but let’s just have another look at Italy’s winning goal.”
R.I.P David, many great commentaries over the years.