'They're doing something special in Leitrim' - Andy Moran reveals plans of fourth year as Leitrim manager

Former Mayo legend Andy Moran has revealed he is planning to stay on as Leitrim manager for a fourth year.

A former Footballer of the Year, Moran recently saw his Letrim side lose out in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final to Wicklow by seven points, after winning promotion out of Division 4 in “an unbelievable season” of progress.

Moran, who has just completed three years in Letrim, praised the players for getting into the gym after last year’s Championship exit to ready themselves for the 2024 season.

Speaking to the Irish Mirror, Moran also said that the Leitrim players don’t get enough credit for their achievements this season.

In an interview with the Mirror, Moran pondered his future with Leitrim, saying it “hasn't been decided”.

“We only stopped two weeks ago. I had a two-year term, plus one," Moran said. "I'm kind of in contemplation mode at the minute, if I'm being honest. The plan is to go back and meet the county board next Monday week - just a few bits and pieces to go over in my own head.

“I do think the key thing for this is that it's not a year. It can't be a year. It has to be a three-year term and you have to build now to make it better.

“I do feel that you make the right choices if you're there for more than a year. If you're there for a year, you kind of make choices just for yourself.

“Even this year in the Tailteann Cup, we were bringing on under-20s. We were developing them, where you could have just brought on an older player if you wanted to up your own publicity.

“But if you're bringing on the younger players then I think you're doing the right thing for Leitrim.”

Moran also revealed in the interview that he feels for the Leitrim players and public: “I am there and I am passionate about it now.

“But I do feel sorry for the people of Leitrim because that is such an unbelievable achievement (getting out of Division 4) by that group of players and I don’t think they’ve got any credit for it.

“To get out of that division with a Wexford team, with a Tipperary team, with a Longford team. I showed the boys a clip at the start from RTE sport where we were rated sixth to get out of Division 4.

“That was one of our little go to's. It was an unbelievable season. I think we played 13 competitive games and won seven, so I think they are doing something special in Leitrim.

“There is huge backing from sponsors, from the County Board, from the people in Leitrim. You go and win an under-20 game against Mayo. You draw with Sligo.

Moran also reckons Aidan O’Shea, who turns 34 on Saturday, will give it another year with Mayo.

Mayo’s season came to an abrupt end last weekend when they were beaten by Derry in a penalty shootout - just six days after drawing with Dublin.

Had they held on for the win in stoppage time against Dublin they wouldn’t have had to play a preliminary round and would have enjoyed two weeks to prepare for this weekend’s All-Ireland quarter-finals.

For Mayo, it is the first time since 2018 that they have failed to make it to Croke Park in the Championship.

Despite that setback, double All Star forward Moran (40) doesn’t believe McStay and his management team will leave their post.

“I don’t think so,” he said “I think he has got a four year term. To me a telling reflection on football was the Galway/Mayo Connacht Championship final.

Every manager, from me in Leitrim to Dessie Farrell up in Dublin, is under a significant amount of pressure. (It’s) just the way the world has gone.”

On Aidan O’Shea’s future with Mayo, Moran said: “I don't think there's any question about Aidan coming back. There's maybe one or two others that you'd be more worried about.

“I had the advantage that I never relied on pace when I got a bit older. Aidan is kind of the same. He was never going to be the fastest player in the world.

“But, when he's playing the way he's playing. Like, he was outstanding last Saturday night (against Derry). For anyone that was at the game, young (Eoin) McEvoy tried to take him up the line at one stage.

“I was just like, 'Bad idea'. He turned him back in and to see him playing like that again was a joy to all Mayo people to be honest. He's turning 34 and he's getting married. So he was a busy couple of weeks ahead of him, doesn't he?”