Former Donegal footballer Kevin Cassidy has revealed he retired from playing with his club Gaoth Dobhair because he felt that there was a lack of dedication in the team.
He also spoke about the need to change to a more open style of football in the province, and how he had no regrets about the events of 2011 when he was dropped from the Donegal team.
The well-known GAA star made his comments on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta this morning.
Cassidy, 34, announced his retirement on Saturday after Gaoth Dobhair lost to Naomh Conaill in the Senior Championship.
“I felt that I had let down the parish, that the team let the parish down … I’ve hung up the boots now and they won’t be coming out again.”
He said it was hard for him to fathom why Gaoth Dobhair was not succeeding for the last number of years, but that he believed it was down to a lack of commitment.
“Maybe we have better players now (than in 2002/2006 when they last won), but the dedication is not there, having your heart in the parish and the jersey … Back in 2002, if we lost a match, that would really hurt you, but would also drive you on.”
“The team that won in 2006, there are better footballers there now than then, but what they had back then – belief and spirit – their hearts were in it… Maybe we don’t have that for the last 10 years and that’s what’s keeping us back.”
He said there was plenty of ability there at a county level, but that there was a problem when it came to club level.
“I grew up with these players. I’ve seen them play for years, and they have it. But maybe they have it at a county level, but they can’t do it at club level. It should be easier at club level, but maybe they’re under too much pressure.”
In the interview with Áine Ní Churráin on Barrscéalta, he spoke about the Ulster style of football, and the need to change it.
“I don’t like it much to be honest. Watching the match between Dublin and Kerry, the open style, the skill … but the style we have at the moment, it’s not nice. It’s hard to watch and hard to play. If Rory Gallagher is going to stay on as manager, he has to change that style.”
“I think Rory could do that. He has great knowledge of styles from all around the country… He knows he needs to change something.”
Of the events in 2011 when he was dropped from the Donegal team, he said:
“I didn’t think that I had said that much (in the book). There was no damage done, and I don’t regret it. My outlook on life is that things happen and you move on.”
“After that meeting with Jim in the Clanree when he told me I was off the team, that was it, I moved on. I know a lot of people were very upset about it in the parish, because people were talking to me about it. My own family was very upset. It might be hard to believe, but it didn’t upset me too much personally because that’s the kind of person I am.”
He did say that the matter could have been handled better, however.
“It happened in September/October, and there was plenty of time before the first match. We could have sat down with the whole panel, and I could’ve been given a chance to explain what happened… but Jim made the right decision for himself because they went on to win the championship.”
The interview with Kevin Cassidy was broadcast this morning on Barrscéalta on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta.
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