Still waters have always run deep with Neil McGee 

Neil McGee didn’t hesitate or ask for time to mull over his decision when Jim McGuinness first asked him to be a part of his new Donegal management team. 

The 2012 All-Ireland winner and three-time All-Star full-back made the last of his 194 appearances for his county in 2022’s Ulster semi-final win over Cavan. 

At 37 years-old, he’d already given much more than anyone would ever have been expected to give, at that level. 

In a senior career spanning an amazing 18 seasons (he made his debut in 2005’s McKenna Cup against Fermanagh) he was, for a decade at least, the best No. 3 in the country. He was also an International Rules regular in that same time. 

But time waits for no man - even one as stubborn and determined as McGee. As well as an insatiable desire to push his body, he was also a supremely talented footballer. 

But perhaps his most underappreciated quality, and McGuinness would allude to this when McGee did eventually call time in late 2022, was the psychology he brought to matters on the pitch. 

The Gaoth Dobhair man was already inside so many players’ heads before the first ball had even been delivered. 

Writing a tribute piece at the time, and getting some insight from former teammates, it was interesting to hear that McGee wasn’t a table banger or shouter inside the changing room. 

His old defensive wingman, Paddy McGrath, explained that McGee was always short, articulate but very much to the point with his instruction. And in those clutch moments, when time is a precious commodity,  that is a real skill. 

There is a narrative out there that McGee bullied his way through the GAA’s best attackers. But it’s a lazy optic. 

It’s akin to saying Roy Keane roughshod his way to the very top of the world’s midfielders bracket at Manchester United. 

Off the field, away from that zone, he’s softly spoken and would probably much prefer not to be asked to give an opinion on anything on the record.

Given all that he achieved on the pitch, and as an ex-teammate as recently as two seasons ago, there was already a serious amount of credit in the bank as far as McGee was concerned in relation to the majority of the current Donegal squad.  

But when identifying assistants or help along the line, McGuinness’ mind must surely have also wandered back to a time when Neil would have his say.  

And if McGuinness’ reason for a surprise return to the helm was as simple as looking on at 2023’s annus horribilis, McGee’s basis for getting back on that same carousel is pretty much identical.  

“Last year hurt, there is no point saying otherwise,” he told DonegalLive. “It was just blow after blow, on and off the pitch. 

“I’d just stepped away, my time was definitely up. But suddenly you’re on the outside looking in and there is nothing you can do. 

“I felt so sorry for the lads that they were in that situation. They were all teammates the season before. But that’s spurring them on now. 

“Every single night they have that wee bit of hurt and, in a different way, it’s being put to good use”.  

When McGuinness exited stage left, in the aftermath of 2014’s All-Ireland defeat to Kerry, McGee admits he didn’t ever expect to see the mercurial Glenties man back in the Donegal hotseat. 

“In Jim’s case, I know how much he cares about Donegal. But it was probably hope more than expectation over the years. But for the reasons we just talked about, last season really seemed to motivate him to come back in. 

“He looked at where we were at and he knows we’re much better than that. It would have stung Jim as well, looking at what went on. 

“I think he deserves huge credit. He’d served his time, done so much for Donegal football already. But he wanted to go again”.

McGee expects to see subtle influences from his experiences in soccer as things progress  but, in terms of the individual, McGee says McGuinness hasn’t changed one bit.  

“He’s the exact same. He knows when it’s time to work and he knows when it’s time to have a bit of craic. The first day back in the dressing room together, it was as if he’d never been away. 

“His values and principles are exactly what they were back then. The intensity and variety to things, it’s meticulous and there is that real intensity to it all. 

“Again, he’s been away on his own sort of journey so he’ll definitely bring something different when it’s needed and that’s exciting as well.

“We’ve got through a really good amount of work up until this point but the real business starts on Sunday”.

Donegal’s players as well, especially the senior bracket, shipped some flack at times during last term’s difficulties. 

They took on the difficult task of asking Paddy Carr to move on but, crucially, they also took the initiative in pleading with McGuinness to make a shock return. 

McGee explains: “The players took a lot of slack last year. But people need to realise that’s the hardest part of intercounty football, keeping at it when things are at their worst. 

People don’t appreciate that the same effort and hours are being sacrificed. It can be a lonely spot. I’ve been there, Jim and Colm Anthony too. But looking back now, you mark it down as experience. Good or bad, it can all be put to use.

“And listen, as soon as they came back in for pre-season, all of those lads, they’d come back in in top condition. That’s down to the individual. Some of them were just out of club action but many weren’t. 

“It’s a small thing but it was a huge statement of intent, I feel, on all of their behalf.

“And whether it’s 1992, 2012 or 2024 the one thing that doesn’t change is that you need complete buy-in from everyone if you’re going to achieve or reach your absolute potential. 

“You can’t guarantee medals or trophies all the time but if you can guarantee no stone is being left unturned, supporters will be on board and right there with you. And it was only the McKenna Cup but I think we’re seeing that already”.  

McGee, Colm Anthony McFadden and Luke Barrett now make up the manager’s new trinity of trust. It was always McGee’s intention to get involved in coaching at inter-county level at some stage. 

And while the level of opportunity that McGuinness presented to him came much earlier than he’d anticipated, he insists he simply had to grab it with both hands. 

“I remember at the time I stopped, there already was that real interest or intent to look at coaching more closely at some stage. With Jim getting in touch, I looked at that as a real opportunity to learn. 

“Like, he isn’t just anyone. So it was a simple enough decision. It really was a no-brainer in that sense”.

With McGuinness and McFadden, there was significant detachment in the sense that the emotional slate from both’s previous involvements had long since been wiped clean. 

But McGee says that transition, from teammate to voice of authority, is segwaying seamlessly enough. 

“Yeah - I get what you mean but I don’t look at things that way. I think every single person inside that dressing room is entitled to have a say. And I did as a player. So that interaction or change, I haven’t really noticed. It really is all about the collective. 

“You’re on the other side of the fence as part of a management team but communication and that sort of open floor is a really healthy thing. 

“Whether you’re first or last in the door, you’re giving up the same time and hours. Your input and role is valued and appreciated. First time around, Jim had that exact same approach. 

“Back then, we were such a tight group, that bond developed really quickly. And I see that same thing now. 

“It’s been a fun environment. People are working hard but there is plenty of laughing and interaction going on at the same time.   

“We have a great panel of players right now. Everyone has committed and there will be a great battle for places, that’s the exciting thing. There is a clean slate and it’s there for anyone that wants it. 

“The seven or eight U-20s that have come in have been brilliant. They’ve added something really fresh to it as well”.

Cork make the long journey to the north west off the back of a fine McGrath Cup final win over Kerry. It might have taken penalties to see off the Kingdom, who had six starters from their All-Irelanmd final team on show. 

But McGee says the Munster heavyweights are building fine momentum under John Cleary. 

“It’s the first game of the league but it’s massive for us,” he said on Sunday’s tussle.  “Everything we’ve done, from the very first day, up until the weekend, has been geared towards that. Cork have built up nice momentum and consistency. 

“And speaking to different people down that direction, they’re happy with their own set-up now and the direction they believe they’re going. 

“Cork have always produced good players and historically, they’re a huge dog, one of the big GAA counties.  It’s going to be a massive test for us. They are a really dangerous outfit”.