McDonald handed Mayo coaching role
December 08, 2019
Mayo's Ciaran McDonald. ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy.
Legendary Mayo forward Ciaran McDonald has joined James Horan's backroom team.
The Crossmolina clubman, who represented the county at senior level for 14 years between 1994 and 2008, said he's "really relishing the opportunity to be back involved with the Mayo senior football team once again" after being involved with Mayo development squads in recent years.
According to a statement released by Mayo GAA this afternoon, McDonald will "work closely with (trainer) James Burke in a coaching capacity and support the development of the players in a football context."
Welcoming McDonald's involvement, Mayo manager James Horan said: "I am really delighted to welcome Ciaran into the support team of Mayo GAA.
"He brings a wealth of experience, vision and skill to our coaching set up and this will also fit in very well with the development phase we are currently in with this senior squad.
"Eleven years on from his last senior appearance for Mayo, Ciaran is still being acknowledged nationally as one of the finest exponents of the modern era.
"He is also a players' player – someone who made his own opportunities on the field of play, creating some outstanding moments and demonstrating great flair, fitness, endurance and individual talent. I know he will bring all that innate ability and commitment to this present squad.
"We have a clear vision for the Mayo team - to develop and grow as a squad, one that is relentlessness in its ambition to perform at the highest level, and that takes individual and collective responsibility on and off the pitch to get us to our goal.
"Ciaran embodies very many of those qualities and principles. Our players will benefit enormously from his insights and presence and I view this as a hugely positive development for Mayo GAA particularly as we look towards 2020 and the upcoming National League and Championship."
McDonald said: "I am really delighted to have been invited by James to join his back-room team.
"I really admire the work being done behind the scenes and the highly professional way in which James is moving it forward. I am excited about both the approach and potential of these talented players over the coming years.
"We saw some great new young players coming onto the field this year and there is a good pipeline of talent coming through thanks to the good work being done at underage and academy level throughout the county.
"I hope to add to that and will assist in every way I can. I’m really relishing the opportunity to be back involved with the Mayo senior football team once again."
Tweet🚨 Breaking News - Mayo GAA County Board & James Horan welcome the appointment of Ciaran McDonald to Mayo Senior Coaching Team.
— Mayo GAA (@MayoGAA) December 8, 2019
➡️ https://t.co/IUvEfMabPW
