In 2011, Spillane aired his views of the Donegal senior football team, to the point where he branded their style of play "Shi'ite football". After Donegal's Ulster Senior Football Championship defeat of Antrim in May 2011, Spillane was critical on "The Sunday Game" of Ryan Bradley, scorer of two points in his first Ulster start, being in receipt of the man-of-the-match award. Spillane claimed Bradley was "the best of a bad bunch" and didn't deserve the award at all, causing Donegal manager Jim McGuinness to react furiously. McGuinness called Spillane's comments "way over the top". Spillane changed his tune completely in 2012, prompting much surprise in the county.