Mayo GAA County Board delegates have ratified four-time GAA All-star Keith Higgins on a two-year term as the new Mayo GAA U20 football manager at a meeting in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park this evening. The position became vacant after Peadar Gardiner ended his reign following Mayo’s defeat to Louth in this year’s All-Ireland semi-final. Following interviews, the Mayo GAA Management Appointment Committee made the recommendation to delegates this evening. Keith Higgins will have former Mayo GAA stars Kevin McLoughlin and David Drake along with Kilmeena’s Mark Ryan as his selectors.

A four-time GAA All-star, Keith Higgins played both Gaelic football and hurling for Mayo GAA. He made his intercountry football debut in 2003 and played until 2021. Keith Higgins won 8 Connacht GAA titles, an Allianz football league title with Mayo in 2019 and was voted All-star Young Footballer of the Year in 2006. He also captained both the Mayo under-21 football and hurling teams to All-Ireland Championships. The dual player has won 13 Mayo GAA County hurling titles with Ballyhaunis GAA and represented Mayo GAA at senior level in both codes. In 2014 he became the first Connacht player to win both football and hurling Railway Cup medals in the same year. He was revealed as Mayo GAA senior hurling team captain in May 2021.

“Keith Higgins was an outstanding dual player for Mayo and I would like to wish him and his backroom team well in the weeks and months ahead. Keith was one of the finest defenders of his generation and I know he will bring all that expertise, determination and commitment to his new role,” commented Cathaoirleach of Mayo GAA Seamus Tuohy.

Keith Higgins played in seven All-Ireland football finals and also won a Sigerson Cup title with Sligo IT in 2005. He holds two All-Ireland Nicky Rackard hurling titles from 2016 and 2021 and was chosen as Nicky Rackard Hurler of the Year in 2021. Keith was also a Christy Ring All-star in 2008. Keith continues to line out for both the Ballyhaunis GAA senior footballers and hurlers in the Mayo GAA Senior Championship.