Kevin Cassidy calls on Rory Gallagher to change defensive style for Donegal

Kevin Cassidy has called on Rory Gallagher to change Donegal’s defensive style to make them more competitive.

The former Donegal defender believes a more attacking brand of football would suit the county, similar to how Dublin and Kerry played out their All-Ireland semi-final last Sunday week.

In the interview with Áine Ní Churráin on RTÉ’s Raidió na Gaeltachta’s Barrscéalta, Cassidy spoke about his disdain for the Ulster style of football: “I don’t like it much, to be honest. Watching the match between Dublin and Kerry, the open style, the skill ... but the style we (in Ulster) have at the moment, it’s not nice. It’s hard to watch and hard to play. If Rory Gallagher is going to stay on as manager, he has to change that style.”

Cassidy added: “I think Rory could do that. He has great knowledge of styles from all around the country — he knows he needs to change something.”

Cassidy announced his retirement from club football after Gweedore were beaten by Naomh Conaill in the Donegal senior football championship last weekend.

“I felt that I had let down the parish, that the team let the parish down... I’ve hung up the boots now and they won’t be coming out again.”

Returning to his controversial removal from the Donegal panel in 2011, Cassidy said he still has no regrets about what he revealed in the book This Is Our Year, which angered Jim McGuinness and precipitated his departure.

“I didn’t think that I had said that much (in the book). There was no damage done and I don’t regret it.

“My outlook on life is that things happen and you move on.”