Next Mayo Boss? 5 Leading Candidates to Succeed Kevin McStay

Although some were frustrated by the Mayo County Board’s statement confirming the end of Kevin McStay’s tenure as manager, attention quickly turned to the pressing question: who will replace the former Mayo forward in one of the most high-profile managerial roles in Irish sport?

The Mayo manager’s role is undoubtedly one of the most talked-about positions in Gaelic football, with many having tried — and failed — to deliver the long-awaited All-Ireland success. McStay had pursued the job for years, and although he delivered a National League title in his first season at the helm, his time in charge will be remembered for a failure to progress beyond the quarter-final stage. Mayo didn’t even reach the quarter-finals in two of his three seasons, a record that ultimately cost the outgoing management team their roles.

Now, with McStay’s era over, speculation is mounting over who will take over as Mayo looks to re-establish itself as a top-tier county in 2026. Below, we take you through the leading contenders for the job.

Oisin McConville

The former Armagh star has certainly made an impact since moving into management. He guided his club, Crossmaglen, to two Armagh championships in 2014 and 2015, adding an Ulster title in 2015. McConville stepped into inter-county management as Wicklow's boss ahead of the 2023 season. Over his three years in charge, Wicklow moved between Divisions 3 and 4 of the League but made a notable run in this year’s Tailteann Cup. McConville led Wicklow to the semi-finals, where a late collapse against Limerick ended their hopes of a final appearance. Having previously been linked as part of Ray Dempsey’s ticket before McStay’s appointment, it’s no surprise to see the 2002 All-Ireland winner's name in the mix once again.

Andy Moran

What an announcement this would be!

Undoubtedly an icon of Mayo Gaelic football, Moran has long been involved in the inter-county scene. Taking over as Leitrim manager in 2022, Moran led them to Division 3 of the League in his third and final year before joining Gabriel Bannigan’s Monaghan management team ahead of the 2025 season. Monaghan made clear progress in 2025, earning promotion to Division 1 of the League and reaching the All-Ireland quarter-finals. For such a young coach, Moran has certainly made his mark in the inter-county game. He would be an extremely popular choice among Mayo fans should he be offered the role.

Tony McEntee

The former Armagh player managed Sligo from 2020 until the conclusion of this year’s Tailteann Cup. During his time in charge, McEntee guided Sligo to two Tailteann Cup semi-finals and secured a Division 4 League title in 2023. He was also at the helm when Sligo came agonisingly close to defeating Galway in the 2024 Connacht semi-final, only for a late Rob Finnerty goal to send Galway to the Connacht final. Galway eventually progressed to the 2024 All-Ireland final. Notably, McEntee is no stranger to Mayo football, having previously been part of Stephen Rochford’s Mayo management team.

Austin O’Malley

The idea of the former Mayo player stepping into the manager’s role has gathered momentum in recent days, with the former Cuala boss seeing his odds shorten alongside others on this list. O’Malley guided Cuala to their first-ever club All-Ireland football title earlier this year and has established himself as a strong candidate as Mayo searches for a new leader ahead of 2026. A native of Louisburgh, O’Malley spent five years as a Mayo player and could be seen as both a fresh voice and someone who understands the county’s footballing DNA.

James Horan

The two-time former Mayo boss is once again being discussed as a potential successor to Kevin McStay. Horan revolutionised Mayo Gaelic football during his first stint from 2011 to 2014, guiding a revitalised side that reached the 2012 and 2013 All-Ireland finals. After stepping down in 2014, he returned in 2019 and once again rejuvenated the squad with emerging talent, leading them to two more All-Ireland finals in 2020 and 2021. Despite the disappointment of the 2021 final loss, Horan remains one of the most respected figures in the game for his contributions to Mayo football.

Conclusion

When Kevin McStay replaced Horan in 2022, the process took nearly two months to complete. With the Mayo Club Championships set to begin in August, fans are hopeful a new manager will be appointed by then, giving him the opportunity to assess as many potential players as possible as the county aims to regroup and rebuild for 2026.

Whoever takes the reins will face enormous expectations, but with the right appointment, Mayo's dream of Sam Maguire glory could once again feel within reach. Stay tuned for more weekly sports content.