GAA’S CELTIC TIR-GER

Celtic Tir-ger

TCG's Paddy Carr with Jim McGuinness and some hard-earned silverware

By David Hennessy

There was a special and memorable day at Tir Chonaill Gaels ground in Greenford on Sunday when Donegal manager Jim McGuinness arrived with the Sam Maguire Cup.

Just days after the All-Ireland winning manager was revealed as a performance consultant with Celtic FC, McGuinness shared his excitement about the new post with The Irish World.

“That’s a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to it. It’s an opportunity to work with a very high level of players in both codes,” he said.

“Obviously there will be certain things I can bring back to the Donegal team and are transferrable in terms of training, management, fitness, strength: I’m looking forward to that. I’m looking forward to getting into the job. I think it will broaden my own mind. That’s a healthy thing for anybody to be doing.”

Celtic FC have proud and strong Donegal links. This was one of the factors that made it an easy decision for Jim.

“It would be my boyhood team. The opportunity, when it presented itself, was a very easy one. It’s a professional sport with high skill development which is very exciting for me because that’s what we’ve done with Donegal,” he added.

“It’s a young team, you’re trying to put systems in place to push their boundaries at different levels. We focused on the individual and the collective benefits will be the way forward with Celtic as well.”

To read more see the November 17 Irish World