MAYO FOOTBALL RECEIVED an enormous boost on Sunday night as two-time Young Footballer of the Year Oisín Mullin turned down an AFL move to remain in Ireland.
Mullin was set for a move to Australia, with the Geelong Cats publicly confirming that he had signed a rookie contract and unveiling his squad number for the 2022 season.
But the 21-year-old has now decided to remain in Ireland and line out once again with James Horan’s side.
“Going to Australia to play professionally was a really interesting opportunity and it was something I wanted to research and consider in detail,” Mullin said in a statement on Sunday evening.
“It was a big decision for me as playing for Mayo with my friends is a huge honour and something I love doing, so I wanted to take the time to consider all aspects of it.
“After some careful thinking and a lot of support from family, I have decided to stay in Ireland and I am really excited about joining up with the Mayo senior football panel as soon as possible.
“I am grateful to everyone who helped me during the process. I especially want to send my appreciation to everyone at Geelong Football Club. I want to thank them for their understanding and wish them every success for the future.”
Mullin’s decision was hailed as a “brave decision” by Mayo county chairman Seamus Tuohy, while Horan said “it has been a pleasure to work with Oisín since he came into the panel in 2019.
“I am delighted he will be part of the Mayo senior football panel this year.
“Oisín is a fantastic guy, a leader, and adds so much to the setup.”
Its thanks to Billy that our amateur boxing team setup and training regime is the envy of all. No wonder the US want to poach him. Without Billy we would not have had that medal haul in London 2012, and without Billy we wont be able to match it in Rio. Its not the IABA that success lies with, its Billy and his team. They’d be fools to not give him everything he wants and anything he needs to keep that success going.
The fact that our boxers stay amateur thanks to healthy funding of 40k and coaches etc all paid for helps. While boxers in other countries are forced into professional ranks in order to go into a full time set up. Here Boxers are afraid to leave the handy number in the amateur ranks, It is ridiculous that the public fawning all over a few bronze medals(third/fourth place) in a second tier competition while Andy Lee winning a proper world title goes nearly unnoticed.
Give him what he wants!! The boxers are consistently winning medals! No brainer here
what Danny said
Resolved soon.. What a joke they should ask Billy to name his price..
Excellent trainer, really good guy too.
Deserves as much as what Martin o neill/ keano etc getting. And I’ll bet what he’s asking is reasonable, his back room team as well. Smarten up IBBA.
If the Web summit is anything to go by Billy will be leaving soon.
It’s just madness that we cannot just secure this man! We have the best track record in amateur boxing in the world per capita, yet the boxing always struggles with funding! But we pump money into the athletics, for what?? So we can get to a few semi finals! Doesn’t make sense at all!
wat time is joe ward for ghtin