Jim McGuinness has strongly criticized the GAA’s decision to schedule Donegal’s final Group 1 match against King and Moffatt in Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon.
Following Donegal’s narrow victory over Mayo, secured with a late point in front of 18,371 spectators, the Donegal manager stated that they will advocate for a Sunday fixture next weekend.
Despite the win, McGuinness expressed his dissatisfaction with the chosen venue, citing concerns for both his team and Donegal supporters.
“That’s a conversation for another time but we would definitely be looking for the seven days,” he said post-match. “We don’t believe we should have been here today either. We think it was very unfair to bring us here.
“It was the equivalent of bringing Mayo to Omagh and we also put in an email to the CCCC to say we couldn’t get a hotel in the area so we had to stay in Athlone. We had to go beyond the venue to come to play in the venue.”
He continued: “I think it would only happen because it’s us. Disappointed in that. We made a case and we made the case early. It was on deaf ears. But, again, that’s for another day but I don’t like the fact that our supporters are always being taken advantage of. We had seven games up to this point. Nobody’s played more games than us. Nobody.
“And yet and all, we had the longest trek and all those people have to find a way to do all that. Breffni was an option. They’re going to say it wasn’t. I know that Clones was offered and that was rescinded. All you’re looking for is fairness and the middle is fair.”
McGuinness highlighted the geographical convenience of Roscommon for Mayo.
“Everybody else had a fair shake this weekend. If you look at the two counties and you look at the geographical position, then all the games were fair. This wasn’t a fair one. You’re 38 minutes from Mayo’s training ground. We’re three and a half hours from Inishowen. It’s not fair.
“If I don’t say it, who’s going to say it? You always seem to be the one that’s pointing fingers but at the end of the day, my job, and it’s 100% my job, it’s the players. The responsibility is to the players. When you’re travelling on a bus for three hours the day before a game, that takes it out of your legs.”
“I don’t like the fact that our supporters are always being taken advantage of’ – McGuinness was last modified: June 15th, 2025 by
