You’d almost sacrifice this year’s championship and all the whinging to follow it about how boring football is and how Dublin need to be split in 15 for a certain outcome:
It’s 2019 and Dublin are going for a record five in-a-row. No team has ever done it. No team could possibly stop this juggernaut.
But what’s this?
One of the best managers in Gaelic football is taking over the second best team in Ireland. Mayo have been starving to death since 1951. Nine times they’ve met with destiny in the All-Ireland final and nine times they’ve been kicked in the stones.
Only Jim McGuinness could save Mayo and only Mayo could stop Dublin.
That could be what next season has in store for the GAA but Tyrone could also have a say in that beforehand and Jim McGuinness might not even be interested in replacing Stephen Rochford.
The former Donegal manager – the only man to beat Jim Gavin in championship football – has been instilled as the bookmakers’ favourite for the Mayo job after Rochford’s statement on Monday.
In 2011, McGuinness took over a Donegal side that hadn’t won an Ulster title since 1992 and, after four years, they had accumulated three provincial titles, a second ever All-Ireland triumph and made it to another final after beating Dublin on the way.
He knows how to build a winning environment but there’s a strong list of candidates lined up for the position.
Here are the favourites, according to Paddy Power.
Jim McGuinness 4/7
James Horan 7/2
For four years, Horan had Mayo dreaming. Two All-Ireland finals and a semi-final replay defeat to Kerry ended his tenure but he remains the last Mayo manager to beat the Dubs when he did so en route to the 2012 decider.
A popular figure and current Westport manager.
Michael Solan 9/2
Won the 2016 All-Ireland under-21 football championship with Mayo and took them back to the final of the under-20 competition this year only to lose out narrowly to Kildare.
Kevin McStay 10/1
A Mayo man, an All-Ireland club winning manager. Has been with Roscommon for three years and has led them to the Connacht final every time, winning it in 2017.
Took them to the quarter-finals twice too with an appearance into the inaugural Super 8s this season.
The rest of the list makes for interesting reading but McGuinness and Horan lead the race.
And no mention of Jimmy Sloyan?
Stephen Rochford has confirmed he is staying on with Mayo.
However, @conorheneghan1 and @Woolberto know of one man who won't be happy…
The GAA Hour w/ @paddypower pic.twitter.com/IwOOOZmZ13
— The GAA Hour (@TheGAAHour) August 16, 2018
