Donegal manager Rory Gallagher has hit out at certain revelations in Jim McGuinness’s book.
Gallagher was McGuinness’s second in command at Donegal from 2011 to 2013, a period in which the county claimed two Ulster titles and an All-Ireland.
However, after the side failed to defend the All-Ireland title in 2013 after being hammered by Mayo in the quarter-finals, the manager shook up his backroom team and Gallagher left the set-up.
In an interview with RTÉ Sport to promote his new book ‘Until Victory Always’, McGuinness revealed he hasn’t spoken to Gallagher since he left the team saying: “It was one of those things; it was a break-up. It’s a relationship and we had fantastic times and unbelievable experiences together. But these things happen in sport and in life.”
Gallagher, who succeeded McGuinness as Donegal manager in 2014 has now responded to these comments, accusing him of breaching a trust and including “inaccuracies” in his book.
“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.”
There were always going to be repercussions from the release of McGuinness’s autobiography given his all-powerful role in the reshaping of Donegal’s fortunes and the manner in which he went about it.
