# Kevin McStay

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Irish Gaelic footballer, manager and television commentator

Kevin McStay Personal information Born (1962-04-05) 5 April 1962 (age 64) Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland Occupation Army officer Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) Sport Sport Gaelic football Position Left corner-forward Clubs Years Club Ballina Stephenites Ballymun Kickhams Roscommon Gaels Inter-county Years County Apps (scores) 1983–1990 Mayo 17 (1-46) Inter-county titles Connacht titles 2 All-Irelands 0 NFL 0 All Stars 1

**Kevin McStay** (born 9 May 1962) is an Irish [Gaelic football](/source/Gaelic_football) [manager](/source/Manager_(Gaelic_games)), commentator, analyst and former [player](/source/Gaelic_football).

Educated at [St Jarlath's College](/source/St_Jarlath's_College) in [Tuam](/source/Tuam) during the 1970s, McStay played for the school team.[1] In retirement from playing, McStay became an analyst and co-commentator with *[The Sunday Game](/source/The_Sunday_Game)*; however, he remained involved as a manager and coach. He was manager of [Roscommon](/source/Roscommon_county_football_team) between 2015 and 2018 and of his native [Mayo county team](/source/Mayo_county_football_team) between 2022 and 2025.

## Early and personal life

Born in [Castlebar](/source/Castlebar), [County Mayo](/source/County_Mayo), McStay was introduced to the game by his father, a former player with [Tuam Stars](/source/Tuam_Stars). His brother, [Paul](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Paul_McStay_(Gaelic_footballer)&action=edit&redlink=1), and his brother-in-law, [Liam McHale](/source/Liam_McHale), also played with Mayo.

## Army career

McStay was an officer in the [Irish Army](/source/Irish_Army) from 1982 to 2013. He reached the rank of [lieutenant colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel). He served in [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon) twice as part of the [UN](/source/United_Nations)'s [peacekeeping forces](/source/Peacekeeping_forces) and had a [NATO](/source/NATO)-led stint in [Kosovo](/source/Kosovo).[2]

## Playing career

### Club

McStay played some Gaelic football at schools level with [St Muredach's College](/source/St_Muredach's_College) and [St Jarlath's College](/source/St_Jarlath's_College).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] He also played at under-age levels with the [Ballina Stephenites](/source/Ballina_Stephenites_GAA) club.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

A two-time [championship](/source/Mayo_Senior_Football_Championship) medal winner with the Ballina Stephenites senior club, he later won [a championship medal](/source/Roscommon_Senior_Football_Championship) with [Roscommon Gaels](/source/Roscommon_Gaels_GAA).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

McStay also lined out for [Ballymun Kickhams](/source/Ballymun_Kickhams_GAA).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Inter-county

McStay made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of 16 when he was selected to play with the Mayo minor team.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] A two-time [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Minor_Football_Championship) medal winner in this grade, he later won one [All-Ireland Under-21](/source/All-Ireland_Under-21_Football_Championship) medal. McStay made his senior debut during the [1983 championship](/source/1983_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship). He went on to play a key role for Mayo in attack during an era in which they won two [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship) medals.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] McStay was an [All-Ireland](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship) runner-up on one occasion.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Throughout his inter-county career, he made 56 appearances and scored a total of 7–122.[3] 17 of these appearances were in the championship.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] McStay retired from inter-county football after breaking his leg while playing against Castlebar one week after Mayo's exit from the [1990 championship](/source/1990_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship).[4]

McStay won an All Star as an inside forward in 1985.[5]

### Inter-provincial

As a member of the [Connacht](/source/Connacht_GAA) inter-provincial team on a number of occasions, McStay never won a [Railway Cup](/source/Railway_Cup) medal.

## Media career

McStay went on to become an analyst with *[The Sunday Game](/source/The_Sunday_Game)*.

## Coaching and managerial career

### Early roles as coach

However, he remained involved as a manager and coach. At inter-county level he led the Roscommon minor team before guiding the Mayo under-21 team to a [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Under-21_Football_Championship) title in 2001. As a club manager he steered Roscommon Gaels to championship success in 2004, before guiding [St Brigid's](/source/St_Brigid's_GAA_(Roscommon)) to the [All-Ireland](/source/All-Ireland_Senior_Club_Football_Championship) title in 2013.[6][7]

### Roscommon senior team

McStay was appointed joint-manager of the Roscommon senior team on 5 October 2015 along with [Fergal O'Donnell](/source/Fergal_O'Donnell), and took over as sole manager in October 2016.[8][9] He led the Roscommon team that won the [2017 Connacht Senior Football Championship](/source/2017_Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship), beating Galway 2–15 to 0-12, in [Pearse Stadium](/source/Pearse_Stadium), Salthill.[10]

McStay got himself into bother while his team were playing [Donegal](/source/Donegal_county_football_team) in the 2018 Championship, involving himself in a number of different incidents with match officials, shoving a linesman in a chest and hurling a football at full force in the direction of another. A lengthy ban resulted.[11][12] However, he resigned as Roscommon manager before the ban was completed. Announcing his departure on 5 September 2018, he stated that he could bring the team no further. At this time, a vacancy had arisen in his native county following the earlier resignation as Mayo senior manager of [Stephen Rochford](/source/Stephen_Rochford), and McStay was linked with the job; however, McStay announced, on 5 September 2018, that "today marks my retirement from senior inter-county football management".[13]

### Mayo senior team

He applied for the Mayo managerial vacancy in 2014 but was surprised when [Pat Holmes](/source/Pat_Holmes) and [Noel Connelly](/source/Noel_Connelly) became joint managers ahead of the 2015 season. McStay spoke about the experience in April 2021: "The interview I did, perhaps, I might have been too honest at it. When I say the interview, it wasn't really an interview because I had the job, because I was the only candidate. Yet, 24 hours after that interview, one or two friends of mine in Mayo were able to tell me 'you are not going to get the that job'. That there are other people who are in the race but not saying it. That was very disappointing for me. People I knew, that I had had played with, was on panels with, were saying publicly that they had no interest in the job and were actually talking about the position while I thought in my head that I was actually crossing Ts and dotting Is. I have a sense that perhaps at the meeting I said too much in terms of what my vision for the team was. That there might have to be some changes, and that was leaked to certain players. I would say that that was an issue. It was a very difficult time for me personally. I had put all my hopes and dreams on [that job]".[14][15]

McStay was appointed manager of the Mayo senior team on 22 August 2022.[16][17]

In [2025](/source/2025_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship), under the management of McStay, Mayo lost to Cavan in a championship game for the first time since the [1948 All-Ireland SFC final](/source/1948_All-Ireland_Senior_Football_Championship_final).[18] Less than a week later, McStay became ill during training at MacHale Park.[19] On 26 May, McStay stepped back from managing Mayo to deal with his health problems and former manager [Stephen Rochford](/source/Stephen_Rochford) took his place.[20] Rochford was [interim manager](/source/Interim_management) for two games, as Mayo made an early championship exit.[21][22][23]

The Mayo County Board then decided to "relieve Kevin McStay and his management team from their roles" with the team, although their four-year term was not complete.[24]

## Comments on Mayo

In 2002, McStay commented on Mayo's lack of clinical finishing and tendency to amass high wide tallies in games: "We are not clever up front, we haven't been for 30 years and I would include my own vintage. I wouldn't say we have had a forward line that would frighten you since the '60s."[5]

## Career statistics

### Manager

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2025)

- *As of match played 14 September 2022.*

Team From To FBD League League Connacht All-Ireland Total G W D L G W D L G W D L G W D L G W D L Win % Roscommon 5 October 2015 5 September 2018 4 3 0 1 8 4 0 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 8 0 5 61.5 Mayo September 2022 June 2025 0 0 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -

## Honours

### Player

This section needs expansion with: the honours he won while playing with Mayo and with his clubs. You can help by adding missing information. (June 2025)

### Manager

**Roscommon**

- [Connacht Senior Football Championship](/source/Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship): [2017](/source/2017_Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship); runner-up: [2016](/source/2016_Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship) (with [Fergal O'Donnell](/source/Fergal_O'Donnell)), [2018](/source/2018_Connacht_Senior_Football_Championship)

- [FBD League](/source/FBD_League): [2018](/source/2018_FBD_Insurance_League)

- runner-up: [2016](/source/2016_FBD_Insurance_League) (with Fergal O'Donnell), [2017](/source/2017_FBD_Insurance_League)

**Mayo**

- FBD League: [2023](/source/FBD_2023)

- NFL: [2023](/source/2023_National_Football_League_(Ireland))

### Individual

In 2010, Sean Rice of *[The Mayo News](/source/The_Mayo_News)* named McStay on his "Best Mayo Team Since 1960".[3]

## References

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Kevin McStay](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Kevin_McStay)***.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Moran, Seán (11 April 2020). ["Finishers: How the evolution of substitutes has changed Gaelic football"](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/finishers-how-the-evolution-of-substitutes-has-changed-gaelic-football-1.4226264). *The Irish Times*. Kevin McStay, former Roscommon manager and a football analyst with this newspaper, remembers the past when he began playing in the 1970s and things were simpler and more clear cut... 'when I was at school in St Jarlath's I was on a team that never played subs. It wasn't until the end of my time there in the late 1970s that Jarlath's started using subs.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Kevin McStay on inter-county retirement, Tyrone, and the great days with Roscommon"](https://www.irishnews.com/sport/gaafootball/2018/09/29/news/kevin-mcstay-on-inter-county-retirement-tyrone-and-the-great-days-with-roscommon-1444511/). 29 September 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-best_mayo_team_since_1960_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-best_mayo_team_since_1960_3-1) ["Kevin McStay makes Best Mayo Team Since 1960"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101230022947/http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10074:kevin-mcstay-makes-best-mayo-team-since-1960&catid=26&Itemid=54). *The Mayo News*. 21 June 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10074:kevin-mcstay-makes-best-mayo-team-since-1960&catid=26&Itemid=54) on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Kevin McStay: Qualifiers may be imperfect, but light years ahead of the alternative"](https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/kevin-mcstay-qualifiers-may-be-imperfect-but-light-years-ahead-of-the-alternative-1.3921078). *The Irish Times*. 11 June 2019. The same thing happened in 1990. This time we were trying to improve on an All-Ireland senior final appearance. And Galway did us in the first round. The following week, I played against Castlebar in the championship, got my leg broken and never played for Mayo again.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-losing-formula_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-losing-formula_5-1) Crowe, Dermot (26 June 2022). ["Mayo must alter a losing formula"](https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/mayo-must-alter-a-losing-formula-the-absence-of-guile-to-turn-possession-into-scores-has-been-a-constant-grievance-41790030.html). *[Sunday Independent](/source/Sunday_Independent_(Ireland))*. pp. 6–7 (Sport). McStay, an All Star inside forward in 1985, agrees.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Former Mayo star McStay takes St Brigid's reins"](http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/sport/gaa/articles/2012/03/07/4009468-former-mayo-star-mcstay-takes-st-brigids-reins/). *The Westmeath Independent*. 7 March 2012. Retrieved 4 August 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["McStay wary of psychological pressure"](http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=185651). *Hogan Stand*. 15 February 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Keys, Colm (29 September 2015). ["Kevin McStay delight as he lands joint-boss role with Roscommon"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kevin-mcstay-delight-as-he-lands-jointboss-role-with-roscommon-31566227.html). Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Kevin McStay named as Roscommon's manager for next season"](http://www.the42.ie/kevin-mcstay-roscommon-manager-3037973-Oct2016/). *The 42*. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 21 October 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Keys, Colm (10 July 2017). ["You lose you are useless"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/you-lose-you-are-useless-you-win-you-are-mighty-critics-bemuse-mcstay-35911888.html). *Irish Independent*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["'That is not appropriate' - Roscommon manager Kevin McStay could be in trouble over linesman confrontation"](https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/that-is-not-appropriate-roscommon-manager-kevin-mcstay-could-be-in-trouble-over-linesman-confrontation-37141272.html). *Irish Independent*. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 21 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Rooney, Declan (25 July 2018). ["Roscommon boss Kevin McStay misses Dublin date after accepting 12-week ban"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gaa/roscommon-boss-kevin-mcstay-misses-dublin-date-after-accepting-12-week-ban-857511.html). *Irish Examiner*. Retrieved 25 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Kevin McStay steps down as Roscommon manager"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2018/0905/991869-kevin-mcstay-steps-down-as-roscommon-manager/). *RTÉ Sport*. 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["McStay went through 'very difficult time' after losing out on Mayo job"](https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/316648). *Hogan Stand*. 26 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["What happened with Kevin McStay and the Mayo manager job?"](https://www.otbsports.com/football/mcstay-mayo-manager-snub-1185494). [Off the Ball](/source/Off_the_Ball_(media_company)). 25 April 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** Keys, Colm (22 August 2022). ["Kevin McStay confirmed as new Mayo football manager"](https://independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kevin-mcstay-confirmed-as-new-mayo-football-manager-41929739.html). *[Irish Independent](/source/Irish_Independent)*. Retrieved 22 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Mayo choose Kevin McStay to take over as football boss"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2022/0822/1318113-mayo-choose-kevin-mcstay-to-take-over-as-football-boss/). RTÉ. 22 August 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Finnerty, Mike (18 May 2025). ["Cavan produce superb display to defeat flat Mayo"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0518/1513492-cavan-produce-superb-display-to-defeat-flat-mayo/). RTÉ.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Kevin McStay 'hospitalised after medical episode' at Mayo training – report"](https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2025/05/24/kevin-mcstay-hospitalised-after-medical-episode-at-mayo-training-report/). *[The Connaught Telegraph](/source/The_Connaught_Telegraph)*. 24 May 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Browne, PJ (26 May 2025). ["Kevin McStay steps back from Mayo role due to 'personal health issues'"](https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41639776.html). *Irish Examiner*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Keys, Colm (26 May 2025). ["Kevin McStay 'steps back' from Mayo GAA for health reasons with Stephen Rochford to take over"](https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/kevin-mcstay-steps-back-from-mayo-gaa-for-health-reasons-with-stephen-rochford-to-take-over/a2095444450.html). *Irish Independent*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ["'All bets are off now'"](https://hoganstand.com/article/index/336580). *Hogan Stand*. 2 June 2025. Mayo interim manager Stephen Rochford and Tyrone boss Malachy O'Rourke after the game

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Jim McGuinness hails 'ruthless' Donegal after Mayo win"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0615/1518611-mcguinness-hails-ruthless-donegal-after-mayo-win/). RTÉ. 15 June 2025. For Stephen Rochford, the interim Mayo manager owing to Kevin McStay's illness, there was no hiding the disappointment of the way they went out

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** Lawlor, Damian (25 June 2025). ["Mayo searching for a new manager as Kevin McStay is relieved"](https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2025/0625/1520371-mayo-cut-short-mcstays-reign-as-manager/). RTÉ.

Sporting positions Preceded by John Evans Roscommon Senior Football Manager 2015–2018 Succeeded by Anthony Cunningham Preceded by James Horan Mayo Senior Football Manager 2022–2025 Succeeded by Andy Moran Achievements Preceded by Tony McEntee (Crossmaglen Rangers) All-Ireland Club SFC winning manager 2013 Succeeded by Tommy Conroy (St Vincent's)

v t e Mayo – 1983 All-Ireland Under-21 Football Champions (3rd title) 1 G. Irwin 2 P. Ford 3 J. Maughan 4 E. Gibbons 5 J. McNabb 6 M. Feeney 7 J. Finn 8 G. Geraghty 9 S. Maher 10 P. Brogan 11 J. Lindsay 12 N. Durkin 13 B. Kilkelly 14 T. Grogan 15 P. Duffy Subs used K. McStay for J. Lindsay M. Kerins for T. Grogan

v t e Mayo – 1989 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship runners-up 1 G. Irwin 2 J. Browne 3 P. Ford 4 D. Flanagan 5 M. Collins 6 T. J. Kilgallon 7 J. Finn 8 S. Maher 9 L. McHale 10 G. Maher 11 W. J. Padden 12 N. Durkin 13 M. Fitzmaurice 14 J. Burke 15 K. McStay Subs used 18 A. Finnerty for J. Burke 20 R. Dempsey for S. Maher 22 B. Kilkelly for G. Maher Subs not used 16 E. Lavin 17 D. Kearney 19 M. Feeney 21 M. Carney 23 P. Holmes 24 T. Grady Manager J. O'Mahony

All Stars v t e 1985 All Star Gaelic Football Team 1 J. O'Leary 2 P. Ó Sé 3 G. Hargan 4 M. Spillane 5 T. Doyle 6 C. Murray 7 D. Flanagan 8 J. O'Shea 9 W. J. Padden 10 B. Rock 11 T. Conroy 12 P. Spillane 13 K. McStay 14 P. Earley 15 E. Hughes v t e Mayo All Stars Mayo has 54 All Stars, as of 2021. 33 different players have won, as of 2021. Lee Keegan won five All Stars, while Colm Boyle won four. denotes that a player also won Footballer of the Year that season. 1971: Johnny Carey 1979: Joe McGrath 1985: Dermot Flanagan, Willie Joe Padden, Kevin McStay 1989: Gabriel Irwin, Jimmy Browne, Dermot Flanagan2nd, Willie Joe Padden2nd, Noel Durkin 1992: T. J. Kilgallon 1993: Kevin O'Neill 1996: Kenneth Mortimer, Pat Holmes, James Nallen, Liam McHale, James Horan 1997: Kenneth Mortimer2nd, Pat Fallon 1999: James Horan2nd 2004: James Nallen2nd, Ciarán McDonald 2006: Alan Dillon, Conor Mortimer 2011: Andy Moran 2012: Ger Cafferkey, Keith Higgins, Lee Keegan, Alan Dillon2nd 2013: Keith Higgins2nd, Lee Keegan2nd, Colm Boyle, Aidan O'Shea 2014: Keith Higgins3rd, Colm Boyle2nd, Cillian O'Connor 2015: Lee Keegan3rd, Aidan O'Shea2nd 2016: David Clarke, Brendan Harrison, Lee Keegan 4th, Colm Boyle3rd 2017: David Clarke2nd, Chris Barrett, Keith Higgins3rd Colm Boyle4th, Aidan O'Shea3rd, Andy Moran 2nd 2019: Paddy Durcan 2020: Oisín Mullin, Cillian O'Connor2nd 2021: Lee Keegan5th, Matthew Ruane, Ryan O'Donoghue

v t e Roscommon football team – managers M. McDermott (1987–92) D. Earley (1992–94) D. Shine (1994–97) G. Sheerin (1997–00) J. Tobin (2000–02) T. Carr (2002–05) V. Daly (2005) J. Maughan (2005–08) P. Earley (2008) M. Ryan (2008) F. O'Donnell (2008–11) D. Newton (2011–12) J. Evans (2012–15) K. McStay and F. O'Donnell (2015) K. McStay (2015–18) A. Cunningham (2018–22) D. Burke (2022–25) M. Dowd (2025–)

v t e Mayo football team – managers J. Carey (1977–80) L. O'Neill (1983–87) J. O'Mahony (1987–91) B. McDonald (1991–92) J. O'Shea (1992–94) A. Egan (1994–95) J. Maughan (1995–99) P. Holmes (1999–2002) J. Maughan (2002–05) M. Moran (2005–06) J. O'Mahony (2006–10) J. Horan (2010–14) N. Connelly and P. Holmes (2014–15) S. Rochford (2015–18) J. Horan (2018–22) K. McStay (2022–25) A. Moran (2025–) Under-20/1s incl. N. Heffernan: until 2016 • M. Solan: 2016–2020 • M. Sheridan: 2021–

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kevin McStay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McStay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_McStay?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.