KEVIN MCSTAY HAS decided to decline the Roscommon GAA chairman’s invitation to remain in charge of the county’s senior football team for the remainder of his two-year term.
After three years in the position, McStay has this evening announced his resignation from the role, and stated that he is retiring from senior inter-county football management.
McStay’s future as Roscommon manager had been the subject of ongoing speculation, and despite the full backing of chairman Seamus Sweeney and the county board, he came to the conclusion that ‘I have brought the team as far as I can at this stage and a new voice and direction is now required.’
Under the former Mayo footballer’s guidance, Roscommon were crowned 2016 Connacht champions and this year regained promotion to Division 1 of the Allianz League having reached the final, where they were defeated by Galway.
But their All-Ireland Super 8 campaign was less memorable, as the Rossies suffered heavy defeats to Tyrone, Donegal and Dublin, leading to McStay’s resignation despite signing a contract extension last summer.
In a statement this evening, McStay said his three years in charge have been the ‘greatest years of my life’ but ‘I look forward to a less stressful period now, concentrating more on work and family life.’
County chairman Sweeney confirmed McStay’s resignation ‘with a heavy heart.’
“Today I reluctantly accepted Kevin’s resignation as Roscommon Senior Team Manager,” he said.
“I’d like to thank Kevin for his dedication and commitment to Roscommon GAA over the last three years as manager of our senior team. Kevin’s professionalism and knowledge were there for everyone to see. He has left Roscommon Football in a good place.
“I want to thank his selectors Ger Dowd and Liam McHale, and his backroom team who all did their very best to ensure Roscommon were as competitive as possible. We’ve had some memorable days from winning the Connacht title to regaining our place in Division 1.
“On a personal level I’d like to wish Kevin and his wife Verona and daughters every good wish for the future.”
McStay released a separate statement, referencing the difficulties he faced in the role, including the significant financial challenges smaller counties must contend with.
“Our annual review of the 2018 season was completed recently,” it read.
“Having considered the many factors involved in managing a county football squad, and unable to resolve enough of those factors to my satisfaction, I have decided that a change in management should take place immediately. I feel I have brought the team as far as I can at this stage and a new voice and direction is now required. The handover to the next management group will be orderly and without fuss.
“Winning the 2017 Connacht Final will always remain the happiest day of my sporting life. The joy, satisfaction and fun it provided to us all — players, parents, management, officials and supporters, is something I will cherish forever. The mayhem and madness of those few days will always be a warm memory.”
In addition, McStay thanked various people he worked with during his three-year tenure, including Fergal O’Donnell, whose controversial departure following the 2016 season saw McStay take over the reins on his own.
“I want to put on record the inputs of Fergal O’Donnell, in particular, during year one; without his efforts the squads of 2017 and 2018 would not have enjoyed the benefits of the many excellent people and structures he put in place,” he said, while also acknowledging the ‘vast majority’ of the media ‘for their fair and accurate reporting on the efforts of our players and my management team.’
McStay concluded: “So, after much consideration I have decided not to take up the Chairman’s invitation. I’ve done three years, every one of them challenging and sometimes exhausting. In reviewing my time in charge I have to acknowledge the inordinate amount of time I spent dealing with financial and facility issues, personnel issues, media issues and the various contentious and controversial events that kept arising over those seasons.
“Success is what we all crave but we must understand our reality too. While Roscommon is a proud football county, it is a small county with a limited playing pool and deficits in resources and facilities. The budget required to finance success at the highest level demands year-round attention. Facilities, Catering, Kit & Equipment, Professional expertise and, especially, Travel costs are major financial drainers and they are placing a massive burden on voluntary officers that is often overwhelming.
“These are the significant challenges the smaller GAA counties face. If the GAA is committed to ensuring all counties are, at a minimum, competitive, then they must be supported financially in a way that reflects the demands and the need for fairness, equity and solidarity.
“I am privileged to say the Roscommon GAA family entrusted their team to me for three years. We had our share of special days, mostly grand days and of course, some very tough days. But overall, on reflection, these have been three of the greatest years of my life. Leaving the safety of the pundits chair for the passion and glory of the dressing room and football field is a decision I’ll never regret. However, today marks my retirement from senior inter county football management.
“I look forward to a less stressful period now, concentrating more on work and family life and to supporting Roscommon and Mayo teams in 2019 and beyond.”
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Probably an unpopular opinion but as a Roscommon man i am happy hes gone. We have beaten only one half decent team in championship in his three years, (galway last year). He persisted with players that were getting shown up as simply not good enough game after game. He failed to fix any problems that lost us games in the three years. Hopefully a new man can help us make the step up to a top tier team.
@Jack: that’s harsh – only has limited talent to work with. Yes there is room for improvement but to suggest he brought little to the table is unfair
@Cul Muldoon: limited talent arguably, personally I’d disagree as the mutaghs, enda smith, cathal cregg, niall mcinerney, cathal compton are all fantastic footballers but limited talent doesn’t mean its ok to leave obviously better players on the sideline and seemingly have no defensive or kickout gameplan
@Jack: You have a short memory. Where were you before he took over, try and remember because you will be back there soon. Under Mcstay ye competed in the last 3 connacht championships. Winning one ( your first in 7 years) and drawing one.
Drew an all ireland quarter final almost toppling mayo, got to the Super 8′s. Unbelivable achievement when managing a weaker county. Ye Roscommon boys are deluded
@Mike Flannery: to get to those finals we beat either sligo or leitrim, to get to the super 8s we beat armagh, not exactly great teams. Repeating myself a lot now but i dont think im deluded by saying he rarely played his best 15 and we went into games seemingly having no kickout plan or defensive structure,
@Jack: won a connacht,lost one and back up to division one and made super eights,who do ye think you are.
@Jack: Well have you a better plan.
Roscommon have limited resources and have done extremely well in the circumstances
I think who ever succeeds Kevin McStay won’t fare any better.
Small pool of players compared to the other heavy hitters.
They were involved in some very exciting games and he and his backroom team deserve credit for getting the best out of the players.
Yea I think you are a bit deluded.
It takes a lot to win either a hurling or football All Ireland
As a Limerick supporter who has waited 45 years I can vouch for that.
Seems a thoroughly decent man. Best of luck to him.
I think he did well with Roscommon. Every team needs periodic change but I’d doubt anyone else would’ve done much better over the last few years. At least Roscommon tried to play football.
Some of the critics in Roscommon and indeed on here are completely delusional!
Dont rate him. Think he is a bit of a spoofer. In saying that don’t think you can expect much more out of roscommon. Won a connacht, made the super 8s, featured in division 1. Think he will go back to the Sunday game reputation intact. Should take up
@Bill Clay: basketball
@Bill Clay: I’m sure he doesn’t rate you either. Done really well with the limited talent Roscommon had and had a great record in club management. Was probably what mayo needed in charge of them but the Breaffy mafia would never have it
@Mel Roberts: if you think Kevin mcstay would win mayo an all Ireland your off the wall. Even Tyrone would have a better chance
@Bill Clay: always has been and always will be a spoofer. To make things worse mchale was his number 2
@dec dunne: look at his record with Roscommon,open your eyes son.
Kevin McLeave
Thanks Kevin for some very memorable displays and of course that amazing day in Salthill.
Not sure what people who criticise expect exactly. Always has been honest, transparent and 100% committed to the cause.
Unfortunately his statement only goes further to highlight the massive issues facing football. Hard enough to be competitive with a small playing pool but to be constantly battling for finances makes it impossible to keep up with the big boys.
I expect more and more players around the country to drop out next. Madness to commit so much to something when can’t be competitive.
Seemed a bit out of his depth in the job to be honest. Getting overly worked up at the slightest criticism and throwing huge tantrums after questionable refereeing decisions. Best of luck to him though.
Surely in the mix now for the mayo job?
@Kj bar: he said in his statement that he is retiring from inter county management !
McStay did well and better than John Evans for example but he’s probably right and has taken Roscommon as far as he can and a new voice is needed now
To those that are saying Roscommon have limited talent or panel it should be reminded that 4 Connacht U21 titles won by Roscommon between 2010 to 2015 and another two 2013,2016 that was left behind them. Winning 1 senior Connacht title in 3 years and gaining promotion to Div one with that pool of talent was not as some seem to think overachieving. Monaghan with less of pick and less underage success have achieved more. With a good replacement brought in Roscommon could become an established Div 1 team and maybe reach All Ireland semi final like Monaghan have done this summer .
He said in the statement that he wants a less stressful life just concentrating on work & family. Is McStay not in the army? Is being in the army less stressful than inter county management? Baloney I say, I reckon he got some really nice new ties for the birthday & needs to get back on the Sunday game to show them off….
@Michael O’Grady: He is retired from army
If only Bertie could pump 9 million into Roscommon.