Why Jim McGuinness’ bizarre excuse doesn’t add-up for Donegal’s defeat to Dublin

The GAA schedule...

McGuinness' men have been knocked out of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship after defeats to Cork and Dublin.

These results come after a statement victory for Donegal against Kerry in Killarney, where they ran out 2-20 to 0-16 winners in a game that was marred in controversy.

The 53-year-old has blamed the GAA schedule and the lack of training his side can partake in as one of the reasons for Donegal's extra-time defeat to the Dubs.

Notably, Donegal had three-weeks worth of rest before their Cork defeat and one-week before their Croke Park upset.

The 2012 All-Ireland winning manager's side also enjoyed a four-week break before being knocked out of the Ulster Senior Championship quarter-final stage by Down.

Speaking to media post-match, the former soccer manager said: “I don’t want to take away from Dublin, in the same way I don’t want to take away from Down, but there is no real training going on - that’s the reality.

“I don’t think there is any real training going on in any county. So you are trying to manage it and have enough fellas to arrive on this stage.

“People are just being managed, getting a wee bit done here and there. You just don’t know where you stand.

“The last time I was in this job, you had three or four weeks between games and you were able to build them up and get them down and able to know where people are at.

"You have to do that, you have to be really careful with them.

“We knew it all year, this is the world we are living in now. It is about being as smart as possible, and clever as possible.

“There is no straight line anymore, you are just looking to get as many things right as possible, and I know every other team is in the exact same boat.”

Fan reaction on social media

"They had more days off than Dublin did the absolute spoofer", one fan noted.

Another X user said: "Sore loser, sore winner. All Irelands aren't for everyone. McGuinness put all his eggs into beating Kerry in May when the real season is in July."

One supporter on X defended McGuinness saying: "To be fair to Jim, it’s not like he’s moaning, he said it’s the same for everyone and gave a fairly honest assessment."

A final user criticised McGuinness' tactics: "Same for every other team in the country. Try kicking the ball if they’re that burned out from running."