GAA spygate: looking for that 5% on the opposition to get you over the line

In a game of tiny margins, GAA managers turn to networks, secrecy and footage swaps to gain the upper hand

Live and Let Spy: Composite image by Examiner Sport

Business as usual. When it was put to Jim McGuinness that a spy had been infamously outed at Kerry’s training before the 2014 All-Ireland final, his response was matter-of-fact: It happens to everyone. Everywhere.

“Listen, the bottom line with that is that, espionage is a very strong word to use, but it’s going on all the time,” he said at the time, while denying that Patrick Roarty was associated with their camp after the Donegal man was spotted in a Killarney tree observing training.