On Friday, Martin Carney was on 'The Last Word' and he made a slightly startling claim about Mayo's preparation for tomorrow's All-Ireland final:
In their last weekend in Limerick they had Jim McGuinness down speaking to them.
Jim McGuinness obviously isn't coming down to talk about forward play...it has to be to look at defence.
Carney's claim was discussed on 'Off the Ball' this afternoon, with ex-Mayo player David Brady seeming to verify the remarks...
David Brady reporting that Jim McGuinness spoke to Mayo players 3 times over the course of a training camp In Limerick.
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 17, 2016
...before, quite hilariously, being texted during the show by someone to tell him that it wasn't true.
It's all a lie!!
David Brady: "I can categorically say now, Stephen Rochford has never spoken to Jim McGuinness in his life"— Off The Ball (@offtheball) September 17, 2016
Former Donegal footballer Eamon McGee said he would be "surprised" if Mayo had taken in McGuinness so soon before the final, saying of his former manager that he thought "if he was going to get involved in the future that it would be his own team".
John Fogarty was on the ball this morning, tweeting out that, if McGuinness did come in to talk, it wasn't something Mayo were prepared to admit.
Claims that Jim McGuinness has assisted Mayo were denied by the camp last week. #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) September 17, 2016
Other sources abounded with various unconfirmed reports.
I spotted Jim McGuinness up a tree watching Dublin train at St Clare's last week.
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) September 17, 2016
@offtheball Brado is dead right - JMCG only spoke with the players and TmcEntee spoke with Winning matches .. #Delegation
— Shane Curran (@shanetcurran) September 17, 2016
@offtheball This is hilarious!! But they've taken all the heat off themselves by putting a story out there ?
— Karen Browne (@cairindebrun) September 17, 2016
he 100% was there, first heard from a girl who works reception in hotel. She also thought Aidan OShea is handsome!
— McBreartysRightPeg (@Chimp1979) September 17, 2016
Is this the ultimate display of cute hoor-ism from the Mayo camp? Maybe so.
Further rumours abound that Jim McGuinness and Martin Carney are secretly engaged in a devious sub-plot to completely undermine the achievements of every All-Ireland winning team post-McGuinness era.
When contacted by Balls, Marty Morrissey denied involvement in any such plot.
