IN THE WAKE of Gaoth Dobhair’s exit from the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SFC this evening, Kevin Cassidy has decided to hang up his boots.
Naomh Conaill ended the Magheragallon side’s interest in this year’s competition with a 2-18 to 0-11 win in Glenties this evening, following on from their defeat at Termon last Saturday.
[adrotate group=”31″]Gaoth Dobhair were fancied in some quarters to make an impact in this year’s championship, as they sit second in the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 1 but have now failed to make it past the group stages since 2013.
Cassidy, who is 34, played 18 years with his local club and won the Donegal SFC in 2002 and 2006, as well as the minor crown in 1999. He was manager in 2014.
[adrotate group=”38″]With Donegal, Cassidy, who played wing-back or at midfield, made his championship debut under Mickey Moran in 2002 and won an All-Star in his first season.
He was ejected from the Donegal panel in 2006 by then manager Brian McIver for “a breach of discipline” but returned a year later to help the county to its first ever National Football League Division One title, beating Mayo 0-13 to 0-10 in the Croke Park final.
After 18yrs playing seniors the end has arrived unfortunately time passes too quickly!! #Gaothdobhair???pic.twitter.com/PmZE8ZLD3l
— Kevin Cassidy (@KCASS7) September 3, 2016
Cassidy was captain in 2010 when Donegal limped out of the All-Ireland qualifiers when they were hammered by Armagh in Crossmaglen on a 2-14 to 0-11 scoreline but was coaxed into a return when Jim McGuinness took over that summer as senior manager from John Joe Doherty.
Donegal won a first Ulster SFC in 19 years in 2011, with Cassidy playing a pivotal role from wing-back before McGuinness’s team eventually lost 0-8 to 0-6 against Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final.
[adrotate group=”53″]That November, Cassidy was ejected from the senior panel by McGuinness for what was said to be his participation in a book titled ‘This is our Year’ by Declan Bogue, which chronicled the 2011 season through the eyes of players and management from the nine Ulster counties. Donegal, without Cassidy, went onto win Sam Maguire in 2012.
A colourful career also saw Cassidy, who is a teacher and GAA columnist, represent Ireland at International Rules.
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