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There is also talk of Noel Dempsey, the under 21 coach, and due to having worked successfully with the players who are seniors now, obviously has a connection with them.

Is Noel Dempsey the ultimate compromise candidate Daz? 

just looking for an "outside the box" answer:)

Good shout on O Dwyer earlier, mcuh like Paudi he knows what it takes to win.  We need experience rather than a young developing coach right now.

In 2006, Mayo had reached the All Ireland Final, and yeah, we got whooped, but at least we were one of only two teams that could say we were there.  Mickey Moran was let go as the opportunity to bring in John O'Mahony came, and surely with his experience we could take that final step?  However, since 2006 we've gone backwards.

With a host of young players drafted in, it was obviously going to take time for them to come to fruition, but even after four years we still don't know what the best team is.  Players have been shifted in and out of the starting fifteen, some have been discarded, others have been on the fringes, with the odd diamond found.  But O'Mahony never settled on a regular team, making it impossible for players to gain a rapport with each other and finding that continuity that All Ireland winning teams have.

When O'Mahony was brought back to the county where he started his coaching career, there was no reason not to think that he wasn't the right man for the job.  Unlike many candidates, he could show his medals, especially the two All Irelands with Galway.  And he would be given more time than most managers get, due to many of the veterans coming to the end of their playing days.  The ideal scenario would be to see the blooding of youngsters who would finally end the drought.

But it hasn't happened.  One Connacht title in four years is a poor return, with not even a sniff of being at Croke Park in September.  We thought that last season might be the year, but despite looking in control against Meath in the Quarter Final, a poor last 20 minutes saw us outplayed and eventually lose.  And just like our other losses in this era, it was filled with poor displays and baffling tactical decisions. 

O'Mahony deserved the time.  Much like a Super Bowl winning coach, he earned a window of a couple of years where he could be given the benefit of the doubt.  But that time is up, and O'Mahony recognised it.  Why didn't it work?  People will point to his time consuming day job, as a Fine Gael TD.  There were stories of him rushing to practice a few weeks ago after having to be in Dublin for an important vote.  I'm sure that this wasn't the first time for that situation to occur.

And maybe, was it just a case of not being able to reach the young players?  His former teams were filled with veterans who knew how to prepare themselves.  Maybe he just couldn't pass on his knowledge to up and coming prospects.

What we do know is that much of his tactics during games were questionable.  Strange substitutions and moving players around when they were having success against their marker were all mistakes made that cost us wins.  He was simply outcoached, an accusation that could never be leveled at him in the glory days of the late 1980's and in the 1990's for Galway.  Maybe he was just a man out of his time, and not able to adapt to the new circumstances of the job and the post-millennium GAA.

So what now for Mayo?  There are always two options when selecting a new Bainisteoir: someone from inside the county or from outside?  Most of the candidates from Mayo are former players who are just starting to learn at club level.  On one hand, they lack experience but on the other would be able to relate to the players better.  James Horan and Liam McHale are the best examples here.  There is also talk of Noel Dempsey, the under 21 coach, and due to having worked successfully with the players who are seniors now, obviously has a connection with them.  The question would be:  are these candidates good enough tactically?  They're going to be up against masters like Joe Kiernan and Mickey Harte, and having a rookie against them is like putting a slingshot against an AK47.

The other option is looking further afield, and the Mayo job is an attractive proposition for anyone.  Yes, it's been so long since All Ireland glory, but think of the adulation, the admiration if Sam Maguire is won.  The team and the coach would go down in legend.  Out of the 'foreigners' being mentioned, Paudi O'Se is at the top of the list.  He has the record of success and has a good mix of passion with tactical sharpness.  Yes, he may ruffle feathers, but we need things to be shaken up.  If the County Board can look past their own interests and think about what is our best chance to win, he is the only choice.

There is talent in the Mayo squad, but we need someone to direct it and lead it.  O'Mahony was not that man, but I think if we find the right one now, we may have the team that can finally end the drought.

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