Cassidy: McGuinness must have forgot confidentiality clause

Kevin Cassidy has joked Jim McGuinness must not have signed the confidentiality agreement he asked players to put their names to during his time as Donegal manager after learning the 2012 All-Ireland winning boss is bringing out a book later this year.

Cassidy, who was dropped from the panel at the end of 2011 for breaching confidentialities in a book even though he didn’t sign up to the deal, has no issue with McGuinness’ decision to give his insight into his four years in charge.

“A couple of my mates were texting me about it joking,” said Cassidy. “It doesn’t bother me one way or the other. Sure, why wouldn’t he?” Asked about the confidentiality agreement, he laughed: “Sure Jim must have forgotten about signing that. Let him do it away!”

Ahead of tomorrow’s Ulster semi-final against Derry, Cassidy has been impressed by the expansiveness of Donegal’s game so far in this year’s provincial championship. He believes Rory Gallagher’s decision to ease up on the players has paid dividends this year.

“I’d say the reason why we didn’t see a lot of retirements last year was because of this approach he’s taking. He’d have told them all about it before they started. You keep driving boys and eventually they’re going to break.

“I only had one year of it under Jim but these boys have had four.

“From speaking to a few of the lads, it’s a different environment to what it was under Jim. Under Jim, there was that need for intensity but now that they have hit those levels and know what’s expected of them there is room for expression. They’re certainly much more adventurous.

“I think that’s common sense on Rory’s part. He couldn’t train them as rigorously as Jim did. Bodies would eventually give in. There is a big emphasis on showing the talents they have.”

McGuinness is writing the book in tandem with Keith Duggan, a Donegal native and sportswriter with The Irish Times. The book will be in shops in October.