‘I think it’s terribly sad what’s going on in Mayo’ – Browne

NOT TOO many people have crossed the border at Ballindine and changed colours in the Galway versus Mayo battle, but former Mayo manager Frank Browne says he is hell-bent on bringing TG4 AllIreland senior glory to Galway.

Perhaps, as a Wexford native, the switch is a little easier for Browne, who took up the offer from Galway manager Tim Rabbitt to coach his side in 2020. But after 26 years living in Ballyhaunis, Browne feels at home in Mayo and his move caused a few eyebrows to be raised in the West.

Fresh from defeat to Dublin in last September’s All-Ireland final, Galway boss Rabbitt was clearly looking for a fresh view on his troops.

In Browne, he has a kindred spirit, a manager who brought a Connacht team to the cusp of TG4 All-Ireland success, although his bond with the 2017 Mayo ladies could have been an issue for some. Instead, he met an open-minded and welcoming Galway squad.

“Tim did what every manager does after you lose an All-Ireland – you look for another one or two per cent. I’m hoping I can bring that to Galway. What that is I’m not 100 per cent sure yet. I have a different style to Tim, a different pair of eyes.

Brilliant

“One of the possible issues was how girls I’d have done homework on, trying to stop them succeeding, would react to the guy coming over the border. But it was brilliant, the impression they gave me was, ‘If you’re with us and you can help us, then brilliant. You’re in our gang. Let’s go for this’.

“There is a genuine belief that we can win the All-Ireland, and the impression I got was that they’ll have benefited hugely from last year.”

Since Browne finished up as Mayo ladies senior manager, there has been plenty of impressive performances from Peter Leahy’s side, but it has also been a time not without controversy.

Only six of that 2017 All-Ireland final team played senior championship for Mayo last year and Browne’s view is definitive – it’s time to bury the hatchet for the good of the players.

“I think it’s terribly sad what’s going on in Mayo. There are a lot of power battles going on, but people need to remember this is about people playing football. At the end of the day everyone involved in the LGFA is an amateur volunteer. People shouldn’t be hurt, we should be creating joy in this game.”

Browne and Galway will have a bit of variety this evening when they face Cork in an online charity challenge for the Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice. “It’ll be a bit of fun but everything we raise is going to a wonderful cause,” he said. “If you can help out in any way, it would be greatly appreciated.”