Kevin McStay encouraged by next generation as Mayo's post-Lee Keegan era begins

Kevin McStay is encouraged by the development of Mayo's next generation as the set-up turn to the future in the wake of Lee Keegan's retirement from inter-county duty.

Former Footballer of the Year Keegan brought the curtain down on a stellar career last week and will not be part of McStay's plans for 2023 and beyond.

The Mayo manager had shared warm words about Keegan after his retirement announcement and reiterated those sentiments when he spoke to RTÉ Sport after watching his side beat Galway on Saturday to reach the FBD Connacht Cup final.

McStay, who is embarking on his first year in charge of his native county, said the focus will now be on unearthing successors to Keegan.

"The nature of it is that it's a story, a tough story for us for a day or two and the nature of this game is that it all moves on," he said.

"I said in my statement and I'm paraphrasing it, he was a great player and an even better fella. We'd have loved to have him but the body could give us no more and I totally respect that and we wish him nothing but good luck. We said that in our words about him.

"He's a marvellous lad. We'll move on and tonight was about finding the next fella and hopefully we're a bit down the track on that."

Mayo will face Galway again in their opening Allianz Football League fixture on Saturday, 28 January in Castlebar and McStay said he was happy with how emerging talents had acquitted themselves during the FBD Connacht Cup games thus far.

"We've only a week now to it and we have to trawl through. In fairness if we're going to decide panels and matchday 26s, we have to give people starts," he said.

"We have to look at them, we have to give them good decent minutes and to see what they're up to and in fairness they've been really