Neil McGee all revved up for Naomh Conaill and county final

Neil McGee always had a good engine and at 37 years of age he will be hoping that he will be firing on all cylinders as he leads Gaoth Dobhair in the county final on Sunday next against Naomh Conaill.

The motoring analogy is not misplaced, as car rallying is also very much in the DNA of this Gaeltacht colossus. 

From an early age until he was around 15-16 he went all over the country with his father Eamon, who remains a major rally figure in Donegal and is the Clerk of the Course for the Donegal Rally. 

“Rallying was a big thing with me when I was young and it was very exciting for a teenager. 

“I was mad into it and that was my big interest when I was young and watching rallies on TV as well. 

“Dad used to do a bit of co-driving and I would go around the practice stages and it was just so exciting. 

“I suppose it was the power and the speed and it was all around us and dad is still very much involved. 

“So that was a part of my youth that I remember well. 

“I still probably keep a close eye on it and that passion never leaves you.

But even before those exciting runs, Neil recalls “Eamon dragging me down to play or train.” 

“He is 39 and I am 37 and there was a field at the back of the house and there were probably about a dozen of us from the same area in Dore, Gaoth Dobhair and the games usually ended up in a fight every night so you had to be fairly hardy. 

“It was competitive and rough and it went on until dark. 

Both Neil and Eamon are very driven people and “you need that to keep going, and you need that bit of drive just to keep going.

“We would not try and outdo each other but we would always try and drive each other on and that is a very positive thing. 

“We are competitive together rather than against each other. 

“Eamon is playing with the club since 2001 and I started out in around 2003.”

But both are very proud Gaoth Dobhair and are very conscious that they are “different.” 

“It is the language, the culture, the landscape, the community and it is something that the club holds very dear. 

“We are the keepers of something precious and we have a duty to keep that going. 

“There is a massive pride there as well.” 

Éamonn agus Neil McGee, Gaoth Dobhair - closing in on 100 championship games

The two legends from Dore have put in some loyal service to the Magheragallon based club since 2001

But this is an extra special year for McGee and Gaoth Dobhair as the Reserves are also in the county final and they would love to repeat an epic double which they last won in 2006. 

“The Reserves are very strong too and they are backboned by the U-21s who gave the club a great boost when they won the county title last year. 

“That has driven us on.” 

Neil and Eamon were key figures in 2006 when Gaoth Dobhair beat St Eunan’s in a mediocre final brightened only by a wonder goal from Stephen Cassidy, elder brother of Kevin. 

“That was a poor final and Stephen got a great goal and I was marking Brendan Devenney that day and we had a right old tussle.”

But the fact that the Reserves are also in this year’s final means that training is much more competitive. 

“That is a real bonus and we train together and you get fifteen on fifteen at training each night which is great for preparation and for morale in both teams. 

“You can try things out and that is the big thing for the Reserves. 

“There are at least 15 of the Reserves who could step up to play senior. 

“They possibly need a bit more belief and if we can get that into them then we have a really great future and if they win that Reserve title on Sunday they will have belief in buckets. 

“But either way the future is bright as Gaoth Dobhair always produces players. 

“That is not going to dry up and there is another batch of good players coming through at that level and I am involved with our minors. 

“It is just keeping them focused and that is the battle that we have, but in terms of talent and athletes, they are there and they are coming.” 

So what keeps McGee going and still hungry for more at 37, a time when most players have either eased back to junior football or taken tentative steps into management? 

“I don’t know, it is about going back to the well. 

“You might say no more but when the winter is over you find that gnawing hunger again and I would be first back at training then, mad for tar and it might not be the wisest thing but it something in the blood and something you have to do.”

On Sunday McGee and his comrades are facing the mighty Naomh Conaill, the team many pundits are saying is ‘the team that can’t be beat.’ 

“They are a great team and I have huge respect for them for what they are doing and I know how hard it is to keep going back to the well. 

“And they are doing it with 20-25 players who keep pushing themselves to the very limit and they are a credit to their club and their people. 

“Leo McLoone, Brendan McDyer, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide and Marty Boyle have been around since 2005 and deserve huge respect but huge respect also to their manager Martin Regan to keep them motivated. 

“Because that is very difficult to do and over the years you see things and Martin Regan has been a huge constant as well.” 

It is the question McGee and his comrades must be sick of, but the failure of that great Gaoth Dobhair Ulster club championship winning team to kick on must be a nagging doubt in their psyche. 

McGee does not duck the question but gives a bit of plausible background. 

“We had four men who retired from that team, Christopher Sweeney (keeper), big Dan McBride, Chris McFadden (Ginger), and “Cass” obviously. 

“Then you had boys going away like Naoise Ó Baoill, Eamonn Collum, Cian Mulligan, Odhrán McFadden Ferry, Dáire Ó Baoill, James Carroll and Michael Carroll. 

“I know Dáire and Micheal are back but that is still nine players that we don’t have from the winning 2018 side. 

“We have a new team and the experience on Sunday will stand to them whatever way it goes.” 

Gaoth Dobhair have had a choppy year and had their best display in the county semi-final against Sean MacCumhaill’s. 

“We have yet to put in a 60-minute performance and nothing less will do against Glenties. 

“You play the game, get the video and analyse it and hopefully learn for the next game and take the positives and the learnings and build on that.” 

Meanwhile, Neil is enjoying his new role as a member of Jim McGuinness backroom team along with Colm Anthony McFadden. 

“The focus is on Gaoth Dobhair for now but in the county, we have been working in the background and have watched a lot of players. 

“There are a lot of players pinpointed and it is about trying to stitch things together for the next month or so. 

“We need to get boys back running and Jim McGuinness has seen a lot of players and we will try to give everybody a fair crack of the whip and try and get a good winter under their belt. 

“All the players are hungry to get back in action and it is all very positive. 

“It is a challenge and I am looking forward to it and I am in regular contact with Jim and chatting away and hopefully now by the Dr McKenna Cup we will have every player possible available for Donegal and get them hungry.” 

McGee still revved up with plenty of places to go!