Veteran RTÉ broadcaster Des Cahill has launched a scathing attack on Mayo GAA following the announcement that Kevin McStay and his management team have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect.

In a post shared on social media, Cahill accused Mayo GAA of showing “absolutely no class” and being “totally insensitive” to McStay, who has been involved with Mayo football since his teenage years.

“I wonder if Mayo sponsors stand over the tone and language used in dumping a genuine management group, who admittedly failed to win an All-Ireland – like every predecessor since 1951!!” Cahill wrote.

His remarks came shortly after Mayo GAA issued a statement confirming that McStay had been removed from his position as manager of the senior football team, effective immediately. The statement followed a Coiste Bainistíochta meeting held at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park on Wednesday, 25 June.

The Mayo GAA statement read:

“A decision was made to relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles with the Mayo Senior Football Team with immediate effect.

We would like to sincerely thank Kevin and his management team for their time, effort, and commitment… Their dedication to the players and the jersey has been greatly appreciated by all involved with Mayo GAA.”

Despite the statement including well-wishes and gratitude for McStay’s service, Cahill took issue with what he felt was a cold and dismissive tone. The former “The Sunday Game” presenter suggested that the way the decision was handled lacked basic decency and failed to acknowledge McStay’s long-standing service.

McStay, a former Roscommon manager and respected pundit, took charge of Mayo ahead of the 2023 season. While he failed to deliver the elusive All-Ireland title, many supporters praised his style of play and the development of younger talent.

Cahill’s public criticism is likely to spark further debate over how county boards handle managerial transitions and the human side of decision-making in elite GAA structures.

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The Magheralin man swam the first heat with a time of 15:07.69, a time nine seconds greater than his previous record in the event – 15:07.90

However, his time is not enough to progress to the final and he finished 20th overall.

All four heats are now completed with the eight fastest swimmers progressing to the final.

The 20-year-old had previously broken the Irish senior record in his Men’s 800m Freestyle heat but also did not progress in that event.

The Irishman clocked in a time of 7:51.65 to win his heat and break the first of two Irish senior records.

The Loughborough University swimmer ends his first Olympics with two Irish senior records from just two swims and has an impressive future ahead of him.

Speaking to RTÉ after his race on Friday morning, Daniel Wiffen said: “Over the moon with that race. I would have liked to have been a bit faster but we can’t ask for much more than a PB and [I’m] happy to improve my record by just under 10 seconds as well. It’s great.”

Wiffen puts his improvements down to a lot of hard work and his move to Loughborough.

Fellow Team Ireland athlete Danielle Hill also competed in her second event of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games this morning.

The Larne swimmer finished sixth in her Women’s 50m Freestyle heat with a time of 25.70.

Hill was disappointed with her performance on Friday morning and looked downbeat in her post-race interview with RTÉ.

The Olympian said that she felt the need to breathe after 35m, which is not always a good sign.

“[The Olympic experience has] been nice,” Hill said.

“I’ve been so caught up in the emotions of swimming and what happened beforehand that I don’t think I fully enjoyed the experience, but then again it hasn’t been a full Olympic experience.”

Both swimmers will now look towards Paris 2024 after their time in Tokyo.

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The topweight is owned by the Slaneyville Syndicate, successful owners in the race last year with Total Recall.

The 11-year-old Acapella Bourgeois was sixth in the race last year. His most recent run was when finishing to Al Boum Photo at Tramore on New Year’s Day.

Willie Mullins has eight horses among an initial entry of 45 for the historic contest.

The Closutton trainer has also entered the Syndicates.Racing-owned Munster National and Kerry National winner Cabaret Queen. Last year’s second, Class Conti, recent hurdles’ winner Koshari and Brahma Bull are also entered for the race.

Monbeg Notorious, Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy first win in the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase in 2018, is among an Elliott-entry of 13.

Milan Native, Aforementioned, Roaring Bull and Dounikos, all notable handicap chase winners, are also engaged. The 2019 Thyestes runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux, Leopardstown third Farclas and Braeside and Coko Beach have also been entered.

Last year’s third Minella Fair, Tout Est Permis and Dream Conti make up a strong entry for Noel Meade. The Mags Mullins-trained Agusta Gold, a recent Grade 3 winner at Fairyhouse, is another interesting entry.

Other notable entries include Gearóid O’Loughlin’s Ulster National winner Space Cadet and Denis Hogan’s Moyhenna. The Ted Walsh-trained Any Second Now is entered, as is Pat Fahy’s Dunvegan. Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase winner, The Long Mile, is also on the entry list.

The Thyestes Chase will be televised live on RTÉ and Racing TV.

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The national broadcaster will also show live TV coverage on eight of the first 20 days following the resumption of Irish racing on 8^th June. Hugh Cahill will present the live coverage with analysis from Jane Mangan, Ted Walsh and Ruby Walsh.

RTÉ coverage returns for the first Classics of the Flat racing season at The Curragh, the Irish 2000 Guineas on June 12 and the Irish 1000 Guineas on June 13.

RTÉ Sport will broadcast new hour-long evening programmes on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player on consecutive Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with ten extra meetings confirmed up to mid-July.

The new programmes will run from 7-8pm on Friday evenings and 5-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and will have two live races with previews and analysis, interviews from the track, as well as replays from action earlier that evening.

Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Horse Racing Ireland, said of today’s announcement: 

“RTÉ has always been very supportive of racing in Ireland and today’s announcement confirms that commitment. The new one-hour evening programmes are an opportunity for Irish racing to attract people to our sport and educate those new fans on what makes racing so exciting.”

RTÉ Racing coverage in June on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player

Friday 12^th June, Curragh
Saturday 13^th June, Curragh
Friday 19^th June, Gowran Park
Saturday 20^th June, Naas
Sunday 21^st June, Leopardstown
June 26^th – Curragh
June 27^th – Curragh (The Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby)
June 28^th – Curragh

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