McGuinness looks to move on from Cassidy saga

JIM McGUINNESS maintained it’s more important to look forward instead of back during his first public appearance since axing two-time All Star Kevin Cassidy from his panel.

Although no official statement was made by the Donegal manager at the time, it was claimed McGuinness was unhappy with the breaching of a confidentiality agreement.

Cassidy was featured in a book titled This is our Year, written by Fermanagh journalist Declan Bogue, which chronicles a blow-by-blow account of an Ulster championship season. McGuinness was unaware of the Gweedore wing-back’s participation in the book and only first learned of its content when it was serialised locally in Donegal three weeks ago.

“I don’t have a lot to say on it,” McGuinness said. “It has been a difficult period. We’ve had ups and downs during the year and it’s not an issue to dwell on. It has been dealt with now and we have to move on from here. There has been a lot said, but we have to move forward.”

McGuinness was speaking at the Ulster GAA Writers’ Awards in Bundoran, a night on which he was named as Personality of the Year. Donegal swept the board, with Karl Lacey picking up the Ulster Player of the Year and 18-year-old Patrick McBrearty the recipient of the Cormac McAnallen Award as Young Achiever of the Year.

Meanwhile newly appointed Wexford manager, Liam Dunne, has announced his backroom team.

Tomás Codd, a sub on the All-Ireland winning 1996 team, and Murty Dempsey, will team up with Dunne.