The Mayo senior hurling team management for next year has been finalised this week, last year's manager JP Coen is staying on in charge of the side for another year and his backroom team has been bolstered by the addition of former Galway goalkeeper Liam Donoghue for 2016. Donoghue will join Ballyhaunis duo Dave McConn and Derek Walsh along with Tooreen's Tommy Feeney in supporting Coen as Mayo look to get back to the Christy Ring Cup for the 2017 season.
Clarenbridge clubman Donoghue joined the Galway senior hurling panel in 2001, and was sub goalkeeper when Galway were defeated by Tipperary in the All-Ireland final of that year. He won a National League title in 2004, and was appointed Galway team captain in 2005, steering his native-county to an All-Ireland final showdown with Cork.
He served as the Clarenbridge Senior Hurling manager for 2015 and won an All-Ireland Senior Hurling medal with his native parish in 2011 when they captured the Tommy Moore Cup by defeating Kilkenny’s O’Loughlin Gaels in the final. He also served as manager with the Galway County Senior camogie team in 2008 and 2009.
The Mayo senior hurlers will play in the Nicky Rackard Cup this year after being relegated from the second tier competition last year, and will face Tyrone in the first round on April 23. Expectations will be high within the Mayo squad that they can be successful at this level and hopefully emulate neighbours Roscommon who won the trophy this year.
Mayo will start their National League season on Sunday February 14 when they take on Donegal in Elverys MacHale Park at 2pm. They will play in division 2B of the league where they will also face Meath, Down, Wicklow, and Armagh over the spring
