Liam leaves with hope of brighter days ahead for Green and Red girls

Not too many managers have the fortune of not only signing off the season with a win, but their term in the hotseat also. And yet there wasn’t a whole lot of fortune attached to Liam McHale’s two years at the helm of the Mayo ladies senior football team, which ended after Saturday’s successful retention of senior championship status.

A legendary figure in GAA and basketball circles, the Ballina native was appointed manager in 2023, but it has proved to be a difficult two years under McHale’s tenure.

As well as the withdrawals of experienced players like Sinead and Lisa Cafferky, Fiona McHale and Laura Brennan, 2025 saw Mayo relegated to Division 2 in the National League and lose the Connacht final to Galway before victory over Leitrim last Saturday ensured their place in the senior ranks for 2026.

“We are immensely proud of the young players who stepped up, made their debuts, and showed tremendous character throughout the campaign,” said Mayo LGFA in a statement issued shortly after the game. “Captain Danielle Caldwell deserves special mention for her leadership during a challenging period of considerable change.

“The commitment required at senior inter-county level is immense – not just from players, managers, coaches, and the extended managerial team, but from their families too. We are grateful to Liam and his entire backroom team for their dedication to Mayo Ladies Football.” 

Mayo LGFA said that the retention of senior status will provide a strong foundation for continued development.

“The experience gained by younger players this season, combined with the emergence of new talent, positions the county well for the years ahead. We give our heartfelt thanks to all Mayo supporters for their loyalty during a difficult season and look forward to building on today's success together.

“Mayo LGFA extends its sincere gratitude to Liam McHale for his service to LGFA over the past two years, his lifetime of service to the County Mayo, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.” 

Should the aforementioned players like the Cafferkys, Fiona McHale and Laura Brennan return, then together with Kathryn Sullivan and captain Danielle Caldwell, who played through injury, and an exciting crop of young talents who are continuing to develop, like Ava McDonnell and Annie Gough, then there is a very bright future for Mayo in the next two to three years, believes Liam McHale.

“There's some four or five really good players out there that this group could do with. They’re quality players that would put pressure on people for minutes,” he said after Saturday’s win against Leitrim.

“Against Kerry, with twelve or thirteen minutes to go down in Killarney, we were three points down but the experienced team with the power probably want to get the win and they get the two or three points. We don't get them – we have the opportunities, but we don't get them. Same with Cork; we had the opportunities at the end, we didn't get them they got them because they’re probably a bit further down the road in their development mentally and physically.

“All these things, that's all about learning and taking the knocks and only through struggle is there progress. By God, have we struggled this year. But you can see the energy, the enthusiasm, you can see that they really want to get better. That gives you a great chance.” 

On their win over Leitrim, McHale admitted previous games where Mayo failed to take chances could have come back to haunt them again, but he felt a big improvement the past six weeks helped them see off a spirited Leitrim display.

“You could see how we struggled with these guys mightily in Swinford [in the Connacht championship]. Over the whole general play, I thought we were by far the much better team. In the last four to six weeks, I think we've improved a lot, and I think they're starting to compose themselves a little bit, let the game slow down for themselves a bit, but that's what it's all about.

“Young players starting, they're playing at 90 miles an hour and when it slows down for them, that's when they become really good players. That doesn't happen for everybody, but it happens for the really good ones that think about it and work on it.

“Much better the last six weeks, but the amazing thing is that they never ever quit. They kept coming to training with smiles on their face. They stayed true to each other.” 

The next Mayo ladies manager will have a talented group to work with. Their first inter-county game will come in Division 2 of the league next year, but given Galway and Cork’s improvement playing in that division, the drop might work in Mayo favour.

“Division 2 will definitely help a lot of these players. You play seven games against the likes of Kerry and Armagh and Dublin and then you go down and play in Division 2, it should bode well for them and they should be going in with great confidence into the championship next year,” offered McHale.