31-07-2025
Spillane slams McGuinness for his 'big match' track record
Kerry legend Pat Spillane has taken aim at Donegal boss Jim McGuinness over his tactical decisions when it comes to 'big matches'.
Many pundits and fans were also questioning certain decisions McGuinness made during Sunday's All-Ireland defeat to Kerry and Spillane believes a pattern has always been there.
Donegal looked strong throughout their campaign until the big day at Croke Park rolled around. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness seemed to get it wrong on the day. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
The general consensus after the final was that McGuinness had simply got it wrong on the day, implementing a zonal marking tactic across the back and only opting to man mark David Clifford.
This granted – as one fan called him – Kerry's 'Pirlo' Paudie Clifford free reign to dictate the play in a match that saw him get possession a whopping 76 times.
Jim McGuinness is supposedly a football mastermind but has left the Pirlo of Kerry free for 60 mins?? Paudi Clifford will never have an easier game. Mad call! — DOBO (@dobobrien) July 27, 2025
Kerry generally cruised to their 39th All-Ireland title and Spillane, who has eight of his own, believes McGuinness always falls short on the big occasions.
Speaking on the Indo GAA Podcast, he said: 'I look through all Jimmy's teams. He has a great game plan and has the players choreographed to that process. But you look at all Jimmy's big matches.
'In the cold light of day, Jimmy talked about his players and the errors by his players. Jimmy had a bad day at the office.
'When you look at the analysis, Jimmy's track record in big matches is not good.'
The 69-year-old also believes the 'Ulster GAA gurus' look down on The Kingdom and claim that Jack O'Connor's side aren't playing the level of progressive football that they are. Paudie Clifford was left open for a lot of the game. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile
Spillane added: 'Look at all these Ulster GAA folks and there seems to be a herd mentality and a group thing by all of them where they're cheerleaders for Ulster teams. Kerry get feint praise.
'Tactics may come and tactics may go, rules may come and rules may go. Brilliant innovative may arrive and preach about how brilliant they are and their methods are so successful, that Kerry are so far behind the table, and yet, every year Kerry are either at the top table or very close to the top table…
'I hear the Ulster GAA gurus, from the time of Joe Lennon in the 1960s, they have been telling us once they're winning games they're preaching to us that they're miles ahead, that Kerry is traditional, backwards, and not evolving. Guess what, we're still at the top.'
Fans and pundits also pointed out another tactical mishap after the final, with Donegal not attempting any two-pointers until the game was virtually away from them.
One X user wrote: 'In the year of the two-point score, Donegal haven't even hit one of them when it mattered most.'
Another added: 'Kerry have taken eight two-point shots and scored four of them. Donegal haven't attempted any.'
