Donegal stars have nothing but praise for former manager McIver

At the time, it was labelled the night of the long knives. Brian McIver’s status as Donegal senior team manager wasn’t even on the agenda at the September 2008 sitting of county committee; he was just in Ballybofey to give his annual report.

But once uncertainty over his position raised its head, the former Ballinderry Shamrocks boss saw his head slip beneath the water line.

In the Ulster championship quarter-final, McIver’s side lost narrowly, 1-14 to 1-12, to Division 1 champions Derry before eventually vacating the All-Ireland qualifiers when Monaghan won 0-16 to 0-15 at Ballybofey.