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3rd August 2025
01:10pm BST
As if he hasn’t had a tough enough week in the post-mortem of Donegal’s defeat by Kerry in the All-Ireland final, Jim McGuinness has been criticised again by Joe Brolly for his management style.
Donegal’s zonal defence was ripped apart at Croke Park on Sunday, with the game finishing 1-26 to 0-19 and David Clifford starring yet again.
Since returning for a second stint in 2023, McGuinness has led Donegal to two Ulster SFC titles, and scored impressive wins against Louth, Monaghan, and Meath in their run to this year’s final.
After criticising McGuinness’ plans in the direct aftermath of the match, Brolly stuck the boot in again in his Irish Independent column on Sunday, laying into the Donegal manager’s stubbornness.
“These [Donegal’s failings with David Clifford] were serious managerial failures, but as Kevin Cassidy always says, Jimmy’s systems are great until a flaw is exposed. Then, he insists on sticking to the system regardless.”
In the column, Brolly had hit out at Brendan McCole’s marking of Clifford in the final, saying: “A striking feature of the game for players from the pre-Jimmy McGuinness era was how shockingly poorly Brendan McCole set about man-marking Clifford. As the greatest ever corner-back, my old teammate Kieran McKeever put it at half-time: ‘What is that man doing?’
“Worse, it had obviously been rehearsed in training… He faced up to Clifford so hadn’t a clue what was going on around him.
"The linked problem was that because no one picked up the brother, he was able to solo, often on the spot near David, waiting until he made his move and then feeding him."
Brolly also joked the GAA may need to introduce a handicap system to stop Clifford from dominating games to the extent he does.
"Jim Gavin’s FRC have unleashed a monster. They might have to consider a handicap system. Perhaps hang weights on him or limit him to six points per game, after which his scores are not counted.
"Maybe permit him to play one half only."
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