JIM'S BACK BUILDING SOMETHING SPECIAL

Cassidy thinks history is repeating for McGuinness

- BY MICHAEL SCULLY

KEVIN Cassidy predicts that Jim McGuinness is on the verge of another two-year All-Ireland-winning project as Donegal boss.

Cassidy was an integral part of the Tir Chonaill side that claimed the Ulster title in 2011 under McGuinness, only for the manager to controversially cast him aside for his contribution to a book about that year’s Championship.

Donegal successfully defended their provincial crown and subsequently lifted the Sam Maguire Cup the following year.

McGuinness left the role in 2014 to pursue a career in soccer management but returned to the Donegal hotseat in August 2023 and an Ulster title followed last summer.

They went back to back in the province in May, defeating Armagh by a point after extra time, and are two wins away from lifting Sam again.

Parallel lines?

"Back at home it feels like that, too," Cassidy said.

"Jim takes a project and he breaks everything apart and builds it block by block.

"In 2011, that's when he stripped it back and started to build. We failed in 2011, but he's seen the differences in what needs to happen to get to the top table.

"If you look at the game against Galway last year, if we had Michael Murphy, would we have got over the line? Jim's obviously identified that. He's brought Michael back in. I think they're playing a better mixture this year.