On the night that Jim McGuinness returned to the inter-county scene, Mayo GAA has ratified a high profile Under-20 management team that includes former senior boss James Horan.
Horan returns to the inter-county game having completed his second term as senior boss just last year.
He takes his place as advisor and selector in Peadar Gardiner's highly-impressive backroom team as the U20s start out on the road to winning their first Connacht title at this level since 2018.
The last two seasons have seen Mayo lose to Sligo in the Connacht U20 series.
Gardiner's backroom team also includes two former Mayo senior players, Ger Cafferkey and Keith Higgins. Kilmeena's Mark Ryan is also included in the ticket.
Tonight’s Mayo County Board meeting gave the official green light to the new-look management.
The highly-regarded Gardiner has already serious experience garnered at this level and was in the previous part U20 management set-up under Maurice Sheridan.
The new management team got the seal of approval ahead of a number of other candidates who also sought the position.
