'Kevin McStay is still the manager'

Stephen Rochford as Mayo manager.

©INPHO/James Crombie.

Stephen Rochford wasn’t giving much away about his future intentions following Mayo’s All-Ireland SFC exit.

Rochford became interim manager last month after Kevin McStay was forced to step back from the manager’s role for health reasons. Speaking to RTÉ after last year’s Sunday’s last-gasp defeat to Donegal, Rochford said it was too early to talk about the future.

“It is mid-June and we’re out of the Championship. It is very, very disappointing,” he admitted.

“Kevin McStay is still the manager of the Mayo team. I'm standing in on an interim basis. Our season comes to an end and we'll review the year as appropriate.”

The caretaker manager wasn’t making any excuses after Mayo’s shock All-Ireland SFC Round 1 defeat to Cavan came back to haunt them.

“When you play a league format, you get what you deserve and over the course of three games the league table doesn't lie,” he continued.

“We didn't get to the pitch of it in the way we had hoped, much better in the second half, much crisper, brought the game to Donegal, but two good teams going at it you were never going to get a full 70 minutes.

“Donegal will be happy with their full 70 minutes, but we'll probably reflect back and a more consistent approach probably would've given us something different.”