Entirely new Mayo Football League management committee elected at EGM

A brand new Mayo Football League management committee has been elected following an EGM convened to appoint a new committee to represent the 25 Mayo Football League clubs.

The EGM was chaired by Connacht FA Chairman John Byrne, who has overseen the running of the Mayo Football League since January 14.

The meeting was called to elect nine committee members and an honorary secretary.

The position of honorary secretary went unopposed following the withdrawal of Martin Kielty this morning.

As a result, John Durkan will resume his role as secretary of the Mayo Football League.

A total of 23 clubs were represented at the meeting, with Ballyheane and Ballina Town the only clubs absent.

Mr Byrne, who had also chaired a mediation meeting involving the former Mayo Football League committee in the Castlecourt Hotel earlier this year, informed those present that there had been further withdrawals from the nomination process just two-and-a-half hours before the EGM began.

Mark Beattie, Paul Kenny, Chris McHale Roe, Kenneth Gannon and Tom McDaniel all withdrew their names, leaving just eight candidates to go forward for the nine available committee positions.

Despite this, the clubs still proceeded to a vote, with three club delegates stepping forward at a time to cast ballots. Mr Byrne and Connacht FA secretary Gerry Tully left the room to count the votes.

Under the election rules, each nominee was required to secure 50% plus one of the votes to be elected, meaning 12 votes were needed.

The withdrawals were submitted throughout the afternoon, with Paul Kenny the first to withdraw at 1.51 p.m., followed by Kenneth Gannon at 4.41 p.m. Longstanding committee member Tom McDaniel submitted his withdrawal at 5.01 p.m., outgoing chairman Chris McHale Roe withdrew at 5.29 p.m., while Mark Beattie also removed his name from the process.

In the vote for honorary secretary, John Durkan received 18 votes, with two votes against and one abstention.

A total of 25 ballot papers were issued, with two abstentions recorded.

The following eight individuals were elected to the new Mayo Football League management committee:

Aiden Dunleavy (22)

Chris McGauley (20)

Kieran Gallagher (19)

Sean Molloy (19)

Patrick Lindsay (18)

Richard Gorman (18)

Gerry Sweeney (18)

Sean Ruane (18)

Speaking following the vote, Connacht FA Chairman John Byrne told the clubs present: “I’m sure you all think it was a futile exercise but democracy is never a futile exercise.”

Gerry Sweeney of Bangor Hibs was subsequently elected chairman of the Mayo Football League expressing that "what happened in the past is in the past."

The new committee will work to ensure the league kicks off on the weekend of February 28/March 1.