‘It was just a fear of change rather than anti-Donegal’
McGee’s manager Jim McGuinness had expressed concern when he heard FRC member Declan Darcy on radio this summer mentioning the county’s All-Ireland semi-final game against Dublin last year.
It was McGuinness’ belief the group had been established as a reaction to the game, but his defender McGee thinks differently.
“I don’t think it’s particularly aimed at Donegal. People fear change and it was just a new thing that came into the GAA.
“The GAA can be very traditional and they saw this new method of football coming in and they kind of feared it. They thought it was the end of the world, which it wasn’t. The game has to evolve and if you watch down through the years the different types of style... this game will be here for years and years to come. It was just a fear of change rather than anti-Donegal.”
After picking up a dubious yellow card early on in last month’s All-Ireland final against Mayo, McGee hopes the FRC will put in guidelines to improve referees’ performances.
“I think forwards get a lot of protection and it’s always the defenders who seem to be the bad guys.
“I got a yellow card in the All-Ireland final, which could have cost me dearly, and put me under pressure. When it comes down to it, you’d like to see more consistency from referees.”
Donegal’s concern at the minute is ensuring they retain home advantage for next summer’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Tyrone.
MacCumhaill Park’s reduced capacity could force the Ulster Council to move the game to Clones although the Donegal board vow they will do everything in their power to ensure it’s not.
“It’s massive,” says Neil McGee. “It’s always a tough game, the first game, and having Tyrone you’d want them at home. Hopefully, we can hold onto Ballybofey and I don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t.”
The younger McGee brother describes the draw as especially difficult considering what Donegal have achieved the last couple of years against Mickey Harte’s side.
“It was the toughest draw we could have got. I suppose if you want to win Ulster you have to beat Tyrone along the way.
“They’ll be really up for it after us beating them two years in a row so it’s going to be a huge challenge.”
Neil McGee gets a kick out of thinking of other counties attempting to follow Donegal’s example of uber-training in the coming months. It won’t work, he insists.
“Other teams might try and replicate you but you have to create your own system. We tried for years to copy what Tyrone, Armagh and other teams were doing but it didn’t work out for us. You have to create your own style of play.”
Donegal certainly enjoyed the week following the All-Ireland final but for older players like the McGees who had reputations for over-indulging as party-boys there’s now a maturity.
“Once you train that hard you’ve no interest going out socialising,” insists Neil. “You don’t have the time.”
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