Jim McGuinness's mother gives rare TV interview ahead of All-Ireland final
McGuinness returned to the Donegal hotseat for the 2024 season and immediately went about changing the fortunes of the county as they reached the All-Ireland semi-finals last year.
Fast forward another 12 months, and Donegal have successfully defended the Ulster Championship and are now on the verge of winning their first All-Ireland title since 2012.
"He had a great passion always for the Gaelic and then he went to soccer for a while as well but I would say he always say he had a bit of drive in him always and to do better always," Maureen McGuinness told RTE News.
Maureen featured in an RTE news report ahead of Sunday's All-Ireland final and still helps run Jim's Cafe in the Glenties, the family owned business.
Also appearing in the news report was the father of goalkeeper Shaun Patton.
"We're just over the moon. We can't wait for Sunday evening to get it out of the way, and please God, we'll be coming down the road with the big cup," he told the national broadcaster.
In one of the most intriguing All-Ireland Football finals in recent years, Donegal and Kerry meet in tomorrow's decider, and as much will be made about the managers on the sideline as the players on the pitch.
In his third stint in charge, a win for Jack O'Connor will catapult him to all-time greatness with five All-Ireland title wins and have him behind only Jim Gavin and Mick O'Dwyer in All-Ireland triumphs.
McGuinness's track record speaks for itself. Under his stewardship, Donegal reached its third final, which would complete a remarkable turnaround for a county that had been in the doldrums since his departure in 2014.
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