James Horan has given his backing to Mayo's appointment of Noel Connelly and Pat Holmes as joint-managers of the senior football team.

The Ballintubber man brought his four years at the helm to an end following the semi-final replay defeat to Kerry and, writing in today's The Irish Independent, he predicted a bright future for the Connacht champions under his former team-mates.

"There were plenty of moments during yesterdays match when I thought about Mayo and wondered how things may have panned out for us if we had have qualified for this year's All-Ireland final.

"We have come so close to landing the big prize in the last three years and I sincerely hope that Pat Holmes and Noel Connelly, who took over there ins yesterday, get us over the line.

"Both men are really good guys. I played with Noel and considered him an excellent captain and then played under Patin 2002, when he was manager. Mayo have got two goodmen.

"And Noel and Pat have inherited an excellent side, a group of exciting, motivated, driven young players who want to keep improving. When you look at the age profile of the Mayo side, it is encouraging.

"Guys like Aidan O'Shea, Jason Doherty, Cillian O'Connor and Donal Vaughan are still young and have not yet hit their prime. When they do, it will be a really exciting time for Mayo football."

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