'This team is still only at the start of their journey' - Neil McGee

Thirteen years on from winning his first Ulster title as a player in Clones, it never felt more fitting to have Neil McGee as one of Donegal’s selectors on the sideline. 

The joy on the faces of the Donegal players and supporters on Sunday was so emotional, it seemed like Clones travelled back in time to 2011 when Donegal captured their first Anglo Celt crown in 19 years.  

It felt like the start of something new then and now.

In what was such a hotly contested and evenly matched Ulster final, even McGee’s synopsis of Sunday’s Ulster final summed up the anxiety of the onlookers in St Tiernach’s Park; “it’s a lot easier playing than watching”. 

There was clearly a tongue-in-cheek aspect to the remark from the All-Ireland winner as the management teams and over 28,000 Donegal and Armagh supporters watched their respective sides battle for over 90 minutes in Clones, as Jim McGuinness’ side captured their 11th Ulster crown in history and their first since 2019. 

In the end, it was Shaun Patton’s penalty save on Shane McPartlan that decided the overall outcome with Armagh once again falling victim to the dreaded spot kicks. 

“That game could’ve gone anyway,” admitted McGee. “But the lads showed great character to come back from four down and then when you go to penalties, it’s just a lottery.

“At that stage and you’re just hoping to come out the right side, and thankfully we did, the penalties were just brilliantly struck.

“We expected, and I think all the media and the fans expected the game to play out the way it did. I suppose the way Tyrone played against us a few weeks ago, Armagh sort of mirrored them, and that for us dictated the way the game was going to be played but we were ready for that.  

“We probably weren’t ready for how nervous it was going to be, but I thought we put together some nice play.

“The unforced handpasses is something we’re going to have to look at, that was probably our biggest gripe for the day. But overall, I think it was a great game and one we’re proud to have come out the winners in.” 

For Armagh, the pain is compounded by the fact that this was their fourth penalty shoot-out loss in three seasons that they have experienced. How could any group of players endure such an experience on repeat? 

Both sides dispatched their first five penalties. But in sudden death, Armagh blinked first, with Donegal goalkeeper Patton saving from McPartlan second time around after Doherty had scored first. 

“I think a lot of people have been saying it, but when the game goes to penalties, it’s in the hands of the Gods then and that’s without us ever practicing penalties and you can still see the quality our shooters had,” McGee said. 

Following the dressing room celebrations, the former full-back was asked how this moment contrasts to when he played and won his first Ulster title in 2011, and how the current panel compares to the great team McGuinness managed a decade ago. 

“We can’t really compare this team to the one I played on under Jim,” McGee explained. “It’s a different era, with different types of players, but these lads have the ability to be as good as they want to be, and this is them still only at the start of their journey.  

“We’ll wait and see where that journey takes us, but it’s been great so far and hopefully it continues.” 

McGee retired from the inter-county scene in 2022 having won five Ulster titles and three All-Star awards, alongside an All-Ireland medal in 2012. And while he acknowledges it was hard to watch the team suffer their annus horribilis last season, he admits it didn’t take much convincing to return as a coach when asked by Jim McGuinness late last year. 

“I left in 2022, but I was following the team, and no doubt there was a lot of hurt. I know all the boys really well and it was still hard to watch and see the lads in that position because I know the effort they put in.  

“I had no intention of coming back but when Jim asks you to come in and help out . . . it’s simple, you can’t say no to Jim.”