DONEGAL boss Rory Gallagher has refuted allegations Jim McGuinness made about the break-up of the 2012 All-Ireland winning management team in his predecessor’s autobiography ‘Until Victory Always’.
Gallagher, who was part of McGuinness’ management team between 2011 and 2013, has released a statement saying he was satisified that “Donegal County Board officers are aware of the true circumstances of my departure.”
He also felt aggrieved that McGuinness has chosen to detail his account of the event as “the players, management and backroom team had a very clear understanding that what happened within the group remained within the group.”
His comments come in the wake of McGuinness’ claims that his relationship became “more fractious” during Gallagher's final year involved with the set-up:
“Both of our opinions counted and sometimes I would end up shifting my viewpoint and sometimes he would. We would always reach a resolution that we were happy with," he says.
"But over this season (2013) I felt our conversations were becoming more fractious. It was as if he had made his mind up on things and wasn't going to change, no matter what.”
McGuinness highlighted an interview that Gallagher gave to The Irish News, just three days before Donegal fell apart in an All-Ireland quarter-final against Mayo, as a particular source of anger.
“Rory was a very visible and vocal part of the set-up. We ended up hosting a lot of media nights and he was a natural at talking away and giving an interesting perspective without ever saying anything that he shouldn't.
“So I was stunned when, just before the quarter-final, he gave an interview to the Irish News in which he spoke about Mayo and Monaghan being in 'collusion' to try to beat Donegal.
“This could only serve to provoke Mayo - and they were still smarting frrm the previous year's All-Ireland final.
He tried to tell me afterwards that the conversation had been off the record. I found that hard to believe, so I spoke to the journalist involved and he refuted the claim. I couldn't figure what Rory's thinking was.”
McGuinness also confirmed that he hasn’t spoken to his successor since the Donegal County Board confirmed in September 2013 that Gallagher and Maxi Curran had exited McGuinness' set-up.
Gallagher’s statement in full:
I have received many requests for my reaction to the description given by Jim McGuinness in his book with regard to my departure from the Donegal Senior Management Team in September 2013.
At this point, I am not interested in commenting on the inaccuracies in the book while involved with the Donegal Senior Team. I am comfortable in the knowledge that Donegal County Board officers are aware of the true circumstances of my departure.
I will say I am disappointed Jim has chosen to comment on the breakup of the management team at this point. The players, management and backroom team had a very clear understanding that what happened within the group remained within the group.
Following my departure I did not comment on the matter as this would have been unfair on the players and the new management team whose focus was on the year ahead. I am really looking forward to the new season working with a brilliant squad of players who have given Donegal so much over the last five years.
The management, players and the County Board will be doing everything in our power to achieve success again for Donegal in 2016.
