STEPHEN Rochford makes shock career move following Mayo’s exit from the All-Ireland football Championship.
Rochford was announced as a new Tullamore GAA coach and will be working under new manager and former Offaly player Paul McConway.
McConway – Tullamore GAA’s most decorated footballer since the 1930s – began his coaching journey at the start of the season as he retired from playing last year.
He took over from Niall Stack, the most successful manager in the club’s modern era.
The new-look management team will look to win Tullamore’s third successive Offaly senior football title with Stack having won three titles in his five years in charge.
The highly experienced coach took over as Mayo head coach from Kevin McStay who stepped back due to health reasons in May.
Rochford masterminded a surprise 2-17 to 1-13 victory over Tyrone in his first game but was unsuccessful in taking his side into the All-Ireland knockout stages.
A defeat to Donegal in the final group game saw the Westerners finish bottom of their group and knocked out of the Championship.
Following the disappointing end to the season McStay was ‘relieved’ of his duties as Mayo manager and as was his management team.
Rochford led Mayo to back to back All-Ireland finals in 2016 and 2017 losing out to Dublin on both occasions before resigning following a shock exit to Kildare in the 2018 championship.
The former Mayo manager has experienced club management success as he managed Corrofin in Galway to All-Ireland club glory in 2015.
Meanwhile Brian Lohan has extended his tenure as Clare senior hurling manager by three years.
This is Lohan’s third extension in his time as Clare boss and this extension will bring him up to 2028.
According to Clare FM reports the Wolfe Tones man was backed by delegates at yesterday’s county board meeting to continue in his role.
It was a disappointing season for the Banner county who failed to make it out of Munster to the All-Ireland stages.
Lohan’s side only recorded one win in this years championship in a dead rubber meeting with a weakened Limerick side and were also relegated from Division 1A.
But the Clare county board have backed their manager who brought them league and Liam MacCarthy Cup glory last year to get them back on track.
His backroom team is set to be announced in the coming weeks with another board meeting scheduled to decide.
Under-20 and minor hurling managers are also set to stay for next season with Terence Fahy and Ger O’Connell continuing to take charge of the two teams respectively.
Clare senior football manager Peter Keane is yet to commit his future with the Banner county as Under-20 and minor managers set to be confirmed in the coming weeks also.
