Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cassidy’s focus on delivering
GWEEDORE talisman Kevin Cassidy says preparing for their AIB All-ireland club semi-final has given grieving players a vital focus.
Donegal legend Cassidy admitted the "joy” of winning a breakthrough Ulster title was replaced by darkness following the death of squad member Micheal Roarty.
The 24-year-old was one of four men killed following a car accident in the county last month.
Gweedore are scheduled to play holders Corofin in Carrick-on-shannon next Saturday and Cassidy said it’s good to have something different to focus on.
Cassidy said: “Had we not had this game, all the lads would be sitting about. We’d be going back doing pre-season but your mind would be somewhere else really.
“So it’s something for the lads to go back and to have something to focus on.”
Cassidy said balancing the community’s grief with preparing for the biggest game in the club’s history has been so tough.
He said: “You have this game in your mind but you also have to do what’s right for people.”
What’s definite according to the former Donegal defender is that Gweedore can’t turn the All-ireland into a “crusade”.
He said: “You can’t turn around and start saying, ‘We’re going to win this for Micheal’. That’s not the right thing to do for the family or for our club.
“We’ve a job to do for our club and our parish. We’re not saying we’re going to win the game for him. It’s not about going on a crusade. It’s about turning up and doing the best we can as a team.”