Jimmy's throwing hacks out!

[deiseach]

That's basically it. Dara O'Shea's point was that Sunday was his only opportunity to do it, as if he had done it earlier in the championship it would have been distraction to what Donegal were trying to achieve. So he had to bide his time, and in the heat of the victory had his revenge. Not sure if it was a dish served cold, doesn't seem so.

Nope, that dish was hotter than Hades!

[spuds]

My take on the whole episode is that Cassidy's interest in remaining on the Donegal panel was wavering, he had given his all for many years and the new regime was extremely taxing on his family and professional life. He had retired only a year before this book controversy arose and by assisting Bogue knew he was on a collision course with Jimmy McGuinness.
If the desire to play for Donegal still burned strong within Cassidy there is no way he could of turned down the invitation to return with the championship looming. Perhaps all the media work he was getting was more appealing. Anyway, he will always have his regrets whether he admits to them or not. A very good footballer who unfortunately misses out on that elusive medal.

[Hardy]

She's some bit of gear for 50+

What did yiz think of the mizzas?

[Hardy]

Anyway, it seems to me that vilifying somebody (literally) by accusing them of "vile" acts is a vile act in itself unless you have a very solid case for such an accusation, which Jimmy hasn't made, or even attempted to make, other than by bald and vague assertions.

[seafoid]

Anyway, it seems to me that vilifying somebody (literally) by accusing them of "vile" acts is a vile act in itself unless you have a very solid case for such an accusation, which Jimmy hasn't made, or even attempted to make, other than by bald and vague assertions.

I read the Indo version of what McGuinness said and it is a real pity that the whole thing exploded in the media back when the book came out. Maybe McGuinness handled it badly initially but he did get a lot of abuse subsequently and he has a family and it's only fuball . I'm sure he would have been aware of what was being said online as well.

It doesn't reflect well on anyone, really.

[Mentalman]

I cannot allow Jim's crude accusations go unchallenged

Jim McGuinness would not proceed with Donegal's post-match All-Ireland press conference in Croke Park on Sunday until Belfast Telegraph GAA journalist DECLAN BOGUE, writerof the book 'This Is Our Year',left the room. Here, the writer responds in detail to the McGuinness claims about his award-winning book and insists that he stands over everything in it.

IT was a strange thing being on the other side of a door, knowing that inside, a platform is granted to someone calling your integrity into question.

So it was when Jim McGuinness requested that I leave the room before he would speak to journalists for his first press conference as an All-Ireland-winning manager -- his reason being a book I wrote called 'This Is Our Year', which took representatives from each Ulster county for the 2011 season.

The format of the book took accounts of players from each county -- and the joint Cavan management of the time -- and weaved them through a narrative.

Therefore we do not get a mere interview with Donegal's Kevin Cassidy, or two-time All Star Barry Owens, who battled back from two cruciate injuries and a heart operation to captain Fermanagh, or whoever else, but through their stories we get to share their experiences and life as an inter-county footballer.

To bring alive these men as three-dimensional characters, showing that they are human and have lives outside the sport in today's age of virulent criticism.

You think Paddy Cunningham is hiding in behind his marker? Well, Paddy was suffering from Crohn's Disease in 2011. It was that level of depth that I sought in order to give readers a greater understanding of inter-county demands. It was written with honourable intentions.

By virtue of Donegal's success, as well as his own fascinating backstory, his open nature and his humour, Cassidy emerged as the most prominent character. After the book was published, he was expelled from the Donegal panel.

It has been to his absolute credit that Kevin has stood by everything he said in his account.

I cannot say I know Jim McGuinness as a person, but while I wrote the book I found myself constantly in awe of what he was doing in Donegal, how he was driving a movement.

From the outside, the verdict of Cassidy was that he was a source of inspiration. Testimonies from current Donegal players leading up to the final confirm this.

The job he has now completed has been exceptional. The Donegal team and management should be rightly proud of everything they have done. In interviewing players on press nights and after games this season, I have found them to be unfailingly polite men. They deserve everything coming to them. But the accusations made in Monday's newspapers must not go unchallenged.

After Sunday's final, I took my place in the press conference, just as I had for the quarter-final and semi-final that Donegal were involved in. It was made known to me that Jim would not talk to reporters while I remained in the room. With their deadlines in mind, I left as discreetly as possible.

Without the prospect of being challenged, Jim then talked about the book. Just as he had at a pre-championship chat night in Armagh. After a while, he refused to take questions on the matter.

It was bullying and grandstanding. Plain and simple.

It was stated that I had no researcher on the book, which is an odd concept. Taking first-person accounts on a season was the format of the book. To question this is to question the honesty of Kevin Cassidy's version of events.

As for mention of vile attacks on Jim's character, I do not believe there is a case, as 'This Is Our Year' is nothing short of a eulogy to the management of Donegal in 2011. With absolute certainty, I say that nobody was "degraded" by the book.

No doubt, last winter must have been hard, with a number of opinion columns strongly disagreeing with his stance on Kevin's dismissal from the team and subsequent banning from the Donegal team holiday. These conditions inspired the columns, none of which were written by myself.

Other players talked about their experiences, travails and frustrations, but no other manager felt the need to react in this way. It was only a book, after all.

What am I responsible for? I don't know. Jim has never referenced specifics. It is this crude treatment that should be challenged, as should the precedent of a manager ejecting a reporter from a press conference. Calls for an apology are strange when the author is unaware of where the offence lies.

I challenge people to read the book. This is not an appeal for sales, but a desire for honesty. Read Jim's quotes by all means, but then read the book and see if you can reconcile his pain with the content.

I completely stand over this book and have nothing to apologise for.

Going by anecdotal evidence since 'This Is Our Year' was published, the overwhelming view is that it is a remarkably positive tale for Donegal management, players and fans.

Before a single copy of the book was in the country, players and members of their families were banned from attending the launch in Gweedore. The Anglo-Celt Cup, booked by Kevin for the occasion, was confiscated. It was an extraordinary turn of events.

It was set in turn by a hurt and a rage that manifested itself even in the moment of greatest triumph in Croke Park on Sunday.

But in the book that has created all this nonsense, Ross Carr had an interesting take on dealing with hurt.

"Certain things happen," he said, "that you catch yourself on. If you keep being that bitter, the only people that suffer are the people that feel the bitterness."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/i-cannot-allow-jims-crude-accusations-go-unchallenged-3240533.html

[yellowcard]

This one will run and run.

[cadence]

i haven't read the book and wouldn't purely because it's only lining his pockets and i'd rather trust mcg's view of it. he runs our show and should not have his running of the team affected by the whims and needs of a journo. it's not rocket science.

doesn't look good on bogue that he doesn't even acknowledge this could be an issue never mind fessing up to that simple fact either. a bollocks.

[NaomhBridAbú]

I'm not sure what McGuinness was at. Like or loathe the media, they are an utterly invaluable part of the GAA world.

Darren Clarke's approach was much better - plus he said it with a smile on his face.

"Hang on I'm trying to recollect your little line. 'He's in his inexorable slide toward irrelevance.' Is that what you said? I've got the paper at home. I can show it to you if you don't believe me." – Darren Clarke to Lawrence Donegan after his Open Championship win.

same fella

Is that the same Lawrence Donegan of Creeshlough Reserves / Lloyd Cole fame?

[upmonaghansayswe]

i haven't read the book and wouldn't purely because it's only lining his pockets and i'd rather trust mcg's view of it. he runs our show and should not have his running of the team affected by the whims and needs of a journo. it's not rocket science.

doesn't look good on bogue that he doesn't even acknowledge this could be an issue never mind fessing up to that simple fact either. a bollocks.

If ever an opening line made the rest of a post redundant!..

I cant recall anything major in it that was directed at Jim.. Maybe there were a few jibes in it, but they passed me by when reading it.. It was the stories way before Jim's reign that probably made more of an imprint on people..

[Bensars]

Why was the book launched in Gweedore? 

Bogue stirred the pot on the affair which was a distraction to those involved in squad. He maximised exposure for himself and book. And once again, it continues!

There's no such thing as bad publicity as far as the book is concerned!

One thing for sure mc Guinness has drawn a line in the sand and there will be no renegades running to the press or "hooring" themselves on twitter ( unlike some counties)

Mc Guinness whether right or wrong is entitled to run his team as he sees fit. Results count and setting the example of what happens within the squad stays within the squad has been vindicated.

[theticklemister]

i haven't read the book and wouldn't purely because it's only lining his pockets and i'd rather trust mcg's view of it. he runs our show and should not have his running of the team affected by the whims and needs of a journo. it's not rocket science.

doesn't look good on bogue that he doesn't even acknowledge this could be an issue never mind fessing up to that simple fact either. a bollocks.

Get it out of the library mucker, ye can order it no problem if it is not in yer local library.

I gotta wile feeling in 24 years time or such we are going to find out the truth.

Reading Bogues' piece there , he comes across truthful and willing to answer questions, he even asks people to read the article in the book and come up with their own opinion. McGuinness says there are 'untruths' , but I cant see them in black and white myself; maybe something was vocally said behind the scenes.

[theticklemister]

Why was the book launched in Gweedore? 

Bogue stirred the pot on the affair which was a distraction to those involved in squad. He maximised exposure for himself and book. And once again, it continues!

There's no such thing as bad publicity as far as the book is concerned!

One thing for sure mc Guinness has drawn a line in the sand and there will be no renegades running to the press or "hooring" themselves on twitter ( unlike some counties)

Mc Guinness whether right or wrong is entitled to run his team as he sees fit. Results count and setting the example of what happens within the squad stays within the squad has been vindicated.

Book done in Gweedore........................

Donegal were Ulster champions
Kevin Cassidy was from Gweedore and played a big part in winning the cup
Kevin Cassidy had a huge input in the book

[NaomhBridAbú]

the whole incident will work out to every ones advantage - Jimmy would have no doubt used the episode to galvanise the team, and augment team spirit for the run up to sunday, and would have been a deadly reminder to those others who would have thought to step out of line, and DB gets island wide coverage and exposure for a marginal media outlet, that they would never have paid for. Oh yes and more publicity for the book

I can see a kiss and make up exclusive in the irish mail on sunday by november

[ONeill]

Strong rumours that Bogue and McGuinness have a single coming out for Christmas. Bogue is doing Eminem style rapping whilst Jimmy has the Dido lines. Should be good.

Anyone who hasn't read the book can't really give an opinion as to whether McGuinness was correct or not to do what he did on Sunday. Paddy Cunningham criticised his own management and Baker threw his eyes up at it. Cassidy said nothing but good about Jimmy and McGuinness decided to use that to stock up on motivational fodder for the follow year's campaign at the expense of his captain. In my opinion, and I've never met Jimmy, as a sports psychologist McGuinness knew exactly what he was doing. If you read the book that'll be clear. There's not a jot of offence in it.

Jimmy could easily have said nothing about it, pulled Kevin aside and said 'please don't be telling people we do a lot of running in training'. He chose to make an issue of it and off-loaded Kevin to send a message to his side - purely for psychological reasons (again in my opinion). It worked but Sunday's charade was all part of the McGuinness show - again at the expense of a journalist who simply interviewed 9 county men for a book, told through their eyes.

I've bumped into Declan Bogue a few times. That maybe colours my take on it but it's justified. He's not your stereotype when you think of a 'hack'. He's an honest, decent fellow - always above board - the sort of lad who'll never get above his station or play games with people for his own end. That's why I'd back him to the hilt on this. He did nothing wrong.