Donegal hero Josh McGee Cronolly happy to continue to mix business with pleasure 

Nickey Rackard Cup final hero Josh McGee Cronolly was no doubt a little tired when he returned to work on Tuesday morning. 

A Bank Holiday weekend All-Ireland final win no doubt made it that little bit easier to roll out of the bed. 

An electrician by trade, there still wasn’t anything too unique about the inter-county star when he finally jumped in the transit van impatiently beeping its horn outside the door. 

You see Donegal senior hurling teammate Dean Harvey is in the same cab while Donegal senior football panellist Sean Martin is also there for company.  

The Setanta ace had been blighted by a hamstring complaint for the past five weeks and his involvement in Sunday’s showpiece win over Mayo, at Croke Park, was in jeopardy right up until the weekend. 

Still, trailing by four points at the break in Jones Road boss Mickey McCann needed something different in attack and McGee Cronolly alongside Peter Kelly and Oisin Grant, were sprung into the mix. 

By the full-time whistle, Donegal had spectacularly got their act together with McGee Cronolly’s two-goal haul in the last ten minutes helping to secure a dramatic 3-17 to 0-22 win.   

“I pulled the hamstring against Monaghan,” McGee Cronolly told DonegalLive on Wednesday. “It was well over a month ago and it was just a slow process. It’s never ideal but it was at a really important stage of the season. 

“The frustrating part is watching everyone else pushing on in training, putting a hand up. And I just had to be really careful. So over a month without any real work done, it left me well down the pecking order. 

“But I’d little to lose in the last week there, the run-in to the final. So I just decided to push as best I could. I got back into the picture, just about I’d say. Because I’m sure Mickey was probably completely planning without me for the final.

“We’ve a really strong squad right now. But I must have done just enough to convince him I might be an option at some stage”.

It was an excellent turnaround from Donegal, who, despite having the wind in the first half, scored just eight points from 23 shots. 

Mayo were much more effective in their use of the small ball, converting 12 points out of their 14 attempts in the first 35 minutes.

McGee Cronolly admits that it was a frustrated Donegal dressing room deep in the bowels of the Hogan Stand at the interval. 

He explained: “We didn’t really need to be told the first-half just wasn’t good enough. As a group, we weren’t happy. But we didn’t panic - we knew there was another gear or two in us. Like you say, we’d also posted a lot of poor wides. 

“It was kind of a case of pressing the reset button. That four-point gap just seemed to be there for quite a while. But we got there when we really needed to”. 

And McGee/Cronolly was every bit the super sub as his pair of goals, in the 60th and 63rd minutes, were ultimately the difference-makers. But he was quick to spread the praise to a group of players he says are “like brothers”. 

“Listen, it was lovely. And it’s nice for friends and family. And after the time I had out injured, it was just great to contribute. But the most important thing was that we got over the line. Taking that cup down the road was brilliant. 

“Even the second goal, the work done by Ruairi Campbell was unreal. And I  was delighted to see Ruairi, Sean McVeigh and Stephen Gillespie all make the Team of the Week”.

It’s the second Nickey Rackard for the 25-year-old who sat out the 2023 intercounty season to concentrate on finishing a four-year electrician apprenticeship at ATU Donegal. 

But he says that previous success pales in significance compared to this latest one. 

“The homecoming into Lettekenny on Sunday night was another highlight. The last time I was a part of this, 2020, I was an unused substitute. 

“It was also the Covid season and there was no one to greet us when we got home. Even at Croke Park, the place was empty with no supporters, friends or family. 

“We were lucky to be playing at the time, and you were grateful for that. But nothing beats having the people you care about there, present and a part of it”.

McGee Cronolly was also a huge part of Setanta’s Ulster IHC title win at the tail-end of 2023 so there’s been little to no respite in the last 24 months. But he’s certainly not complaining about the hectic schedule. 

“It has been another long year but… and Danny Cullen is always preaching the same thing; ‘win what you can, while you can’. And we’re taking that as gospel really. We are doing our best, whether it’s club or county, to do just that”. 

The player credits Mickey McCann, the individual as much as the boss, for managing to keep the squad’s veterans on board and, at the same time, blood some exciting young talent along the way. 

“I think there is a real foundation there. Mickey has managed to keep some of those experienced lads involved but also take the younger lads in the front door too. 

“And that’s all down to Mickey and the way he goes about things. It’s a great blend and there is a real tightness there in the group. 

“Like, you’re asking there about juggling work, time and hurling. Whatever it’s like for the younger lads the older fellas with family and small children, that’s real sacrifice and commitment. 

“Lads in their mid to late 30s, they are managing injuries, getting surgeries and still busting themselves to remain involved; that’s a huge effort.

“Even Declan Coulter on Sunday, he’s had really bad luck with a calf injury. But before coming on, he was the one in my ear calming me down. 

“It wasn’t nerves or anything, I was just a little too excited maybe. And he had that bit of maturity and experience just to have a few words. Again, that’s how close the group is”. 

The juggle of 9-5 manual trade employment and what no doubt is a hectic sporting schedule takes some planning. But - like McGee Cronolly explains - he keeps good company in that regard.  

“Without a doubt there are days you’re thinking, ‘I’d love to skip training this evening and just lie on the couch, put the feet up. You’re on your feet all day at work. 

“But it’s hunger and a love for it that eventually makes you pick up the bag and head out the door. 

“There are three of us at that one level at work with Sean Martin and Dean Harvey also in the front of the van! I’ve never thought much about it to be honest - that it’s a juggle or anything.

“Again, we’re young lads and you just get on with it. Site talk completely centres on GAA I suppose and probably melts the other lads’ heads! 

“There are even mornings, where we might do our recovery together on the floor of some random stranger’s house.  

“And there is a lot of gawking into each other’s lunch box to see if is anyone letting the side down or cutting corners! 

“Sean and Dean, to be fair, are seriously dedicated in that sense. To be honest, there is the odd morning I’ll sneak off to get the milk but maybe grab a cheeky breakfast roll as well!  

“And listen, we have to be very grateful to the bossmen Dermot and Kevin (McGlynn Electrical). Imagine bosses with three lads constantly looking to get away early the odd day here and there. 

“I’d say both them are getting to the stage now where they don’t want to see Donegal doing well!”