Hegarty says McGuinness has been proven right

Former Donegal player Michael Hegarty has hit out at the criticism directed at the team since Jim McGuinness took over.

The Kilcar man, who retired at the end of last season, was disappointed by the description of the players as “sheep” in the press following the unopposed axing of Kevin Cassidy from the panel last November.

“I think it’s very harsh to be writing such strongly worded things about an amateur sport,” said Hegarty.

“It would be alright if you were a Premier League footballer earning £100,000 a week but we’re talking about amateur players.

“I don’t know how anyone could put something down like that. The game has move on now and Jim McGuinness has been proven right.”

Hegarty, who stepped away because of knee problems and off-field commitments, said McGuinness should be heralded for how far he’s brought Donegal in such a short space of time, not hounded for defensive tactics.

“Last year, it [the criticism] was very bad after the Dublin game. It all comes down to whether you’re victorious or you get defeated. Had Donegal beaten Dublin you’d have to ask whether there would have been as much criticism of Donegal.

“It definitely was a bit too much. People have to realise where Donegal were coming from. For three years, we hadn’t won the first game in the Ulster championship.

“Instead of being criticised, it should have been the other way around for Jim considering where he was coming from and it was frustrating hearing about it all of the time.”

But McGuinness, Hegarty says, wouldn’t look towards other people’s views of Donegal as sources of inspiration.

“In the past, players and managers would have looked to it as motivation. But Jim is such a good manager and able to pick the brains of the players. He keeps it so tight that there are no distractions even when the players are getting praise.”

Keeping with that theme, he feels McGuinness is well positioned to ensure the incredible hype doesn’t impact on the team.

“In years past there would have been massive excitement as well. In 2003, when we got to an All-Ireland semi-final against Armagh it was just mad. Players got carried away and it may have affected us. “But Jim would have been speaking about this, ensuring everything is kept in control. They’ll enjoy it but they won’t get carried away. There’s a plan.”

Hegarty, 33, admits there’s a part of him that aches to still be involved on Sunday but knows he made the right choice. “It’s at a stage in the championship that you want to be involved and when you see the team winning games you start to think.

However, I’m happy with my decision. Not many players get the opportunity to leave on their own terms.”