And so the time has come for Kevin McStay to manage his native county.
Exactly eight weeks on from James Horan stepping down, the Mayo board ratified McStay's appointment on Monday evening.
It's a four-year term for the new management ticket that also includes former county boss Stephen Rochford, respected coach Donie Buckley, Liam McHale, who worked alongside McStay with St Brigid's and Roscommon, and the former Belmullet and Breaffy manager Damien Mulligan.
On paper, it's an impressive ticket; Rochford and Buckley's presence giving it added weight. The other candidates - Ray Dempsey, Mike Sloan and Declan Shaw - also had some stellar names on board - but in the end McStay's pitch ticked the most boxes.
"All four candidates were impressive but Kevin carried that extra bit," said Mayo GAA chairperson Séamus Tuohy.
"No doubt he does bring a very impressive team behind him. With his experience at inter-county level, it does count and the people he brings with him bring a lot of experience.
"It was an arduous process but we are confident we have chosen the best person for the job. Kevin has a proven track record with both Roscommon and St. Brigid's GAA club and he brings a wealth of experience to the position.
"Overall they're a very impressive outfit and it has to be good for Mayo GAA going forward."
During his time as an analyst on The Sunday Game, McStay often referenced Mayo's ability "to keep coming back" in the face of agonising defeats - those All-Ireland near-misses or the frustration felt at losing that semi-final replay to Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds.
This year's championship exit was different, however. There was sense that Horan's squad were running on dirty petrol even before they took on Kerry. The atmosphere for that Croke Park quarter-final was somewhat eerie after the extended drama served up by Galway and Armagh.
The Kingdom won with a bit to spare at the finish, but not before Mayo had chances to make the game a lot tighter. And those chances were aplenty, particularly after half-time. Mayo's cause not helped by the absence of Tommy Conroy and Ryan O’Donoghue, another setback in what was a frustrating 2022 for the county.
McStay's plans for 2023 will include having the aforementioned duo back on board, as well as ensuring that Lee Keegan sticks around. If the answer to the question on giving it another season is anything to go by, then the words uttered by the Westport clubman in advance of the Galway-Derry All-Ireland semi-final, should leave Mayo fans happy.
Great news for Mayo supporters as Lee Keegan strongly hints that he'll be back for another campaign in the green and red. #RTEGAA pic.twitter.com/BxQCoUEU1T
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) July 9, 2022
New management can put a spring in the step of those who are thinking about calling it a day. The close-season has so far saw no Green and Red retirements.
It maybe too simplistic to say that Mayo are a team in transition. To use the well-worn cliche, they have that mix of youth and experience. As a collective the current crop aren't a strong has the sides managed by Stephen Rochford in 2016 and '17, so McStay, faced with the challenge of new-look championship next year, will have to beef up the squad. He admitted as much at his unveiling, when highlighting the depth is not as deep as the other big contenders.
The Mayo club championship starts on the first weekend in September. That's when the work begins for McStay and co.
Four years on from ending his tenure as Roscommon boss and saying that was that with regard to inter-county management, McStay, now aged 60, has left behind the pundits chair for another go at management. As an analyst he was often quite forensic in getting his point across. There is no doubt he'll bring the same rigour to the role of trying to drive Mayo on.
With the Rossies, he had, as he outlined in his book 'The Pressure Game, Walking the Walk on the County Sideline' to contend with the "online gobshites", who passed comment on him and his team. More of those 'observers' are probably lying in wait to pass their judgement at the first sight of something controversial.
Such is the way of the world with 280 characters. Former Irish Independent GAA correspondent and 'Championship Man' Liam Horan will serve as Mayo's communications and strategy manager. Another necessary addition to the team.
The world of GAA inter-county management is now a serious business. So much for McStay looking for "a less stressful life" after he left Roscommon. The stellar look of the backroom team he has assembled only heightens expectations. MacHale Park will be heaving again for league matches next spring. Championship Saturdays and Sundays in 2023 will bring with it renewed hope that Mayo will again be competitive at the business end.
Kerry, as champions, will begin the year as favourites to retain Sam Maguire. More than a few counties will have designs on taking their crown away. Mayo are in that mix.
How effective McStay is in driving it on will be key in a championship race that will be more of a marathon than a sprint.
