DONEGAL captain Michael Murphy claims his former team-mate Kevin Cassidy was wrong to contribute a book documenting his season with the county.
The Glenswilly man yesterday backed Jim McGuinness’ decision to axe the All Star defender from the panel after his comments about the 2011 campaign in Declan Bogue’s This Is Our Year.
Murphy revealed he has not spoken to Cassidy since the publication of the book in which the wing-back is believed to have contravened a confidentiality agreement signed by the players at the start of this year.
Asked if he would like to see Cassidy return to the panel, he said: “Ah no, no. Jim had to make the decision and the county had to make the decision and that was the decision made. Kevin stepped out of line and that was agreed on by everyone.
“That was unfortunate but we’re looking forward to a new season and we’re looking forward to rowing in behind everybody again and getting on with it.”
Though Cassidy appears to have broken the bond in the Donegal camp he spoke about in the book, the support among the players for the punishment dished out to him by McGuinness appears to indicate their unity remains intact.
Murphy told The Examiner newspaper he believes the sense of togetherness contributed to the county reaching the All-Ireland semi-finals.
“It was a good feeling being united,” said the 22-year-old. “Any team you go and play for has to be united and thankfully this year a group of fellas came together and rowed in behind one another. That might have pulled us through a lot of the year and we’re hoping to carry that on into next year.”
Based on Cassidy’s account, Donegal’s bond was resolute throughout even in the face of heavy criticism of their defensive style of football from pundits. Even if he hasn’t talked to him since the fallout, Murphy agrees with his erstwhile colleague on that point.
“Every team gets criticism. Every team is going to get a bit of stick, maybe some more than others, but as players it never really bothered us. You just have to get on with it and try and improve again.
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