Neil McGee – Dublin can be beat

NEIL McGee says that it is up to other sides to get their act together in the pursuit of six-in-row All-Ireland kingpins Dublin.

So many GAA pundits now believe toppling the Dubs is a futile aspiration. But Donegal stalwart McGee isn’t one of those throwing in the towel.

By the end of the National League, Donegal and Kerry were many people’s second and third picks behind Dessie Farrell’s men in the pecking order.

And both were viewed as the best equipped sides to rattle them if and when their paths finally crossed. The road to Croker had Donegal’s Dublin juncture marked in at the semi-final stage.

And if the champions navigated that obstacle the Kingdom were expected to be the ones waiting at the final destination of the All-Ireland final.

For one reason or another, neither Kerry nor Donegal upheld their sides of the bargain. And in the end, Dublin cantered to their sixth Sam Maguire crown on-the-trot.

McGee says the top sides looking to end the Dublin streak have to accept their portion of blame as the dust settles on 2020’s Covid hit campaign.

“Dublin are the benchmark,” he said.” There is a lot of silly talk out there at the minute. But absolutely, there is no doubt they can be beat.

“It will take a serious effort. And everything would have to be perfect on the day. But they can be got at. And that is one of the regrets of this year, that we didn’t get a shot at them. It would have let us know exactly where we were at.”

The credibility of Dublin’s victories and even the All-Ireland Senior Championship itself is now being called into question given their absolute dominant grip.

McGee though says counties need to look a little closer to home and put their own shortcomings under the microscope instead.

“All that has to start with yourself, get your own house in order before you start criticising or even talk about beating Dublin.

“I have no doubt we have the players there and we have a great management team in place to do good things. The right tools are in place. But you have to go out and put all that into practice.”

McGee watched on as Mayo put up their usual fight on Saturday night. He credited them for having a go. But he admitted the ominous signs were there as early as half time.

“Mayo did a lot of things right. To be fair to them they were game and they were at it. They are probably annoyed that they didn’t ask even more questions.

“You have to get goals to beat Dublin. And that is easier said than done. They kicked a few balls into (Stephen) Cluxton’s hands. You need to be consistent with that and, like I said, putting in a few goals.

“They were so unfortunate to concede a goal right away. It put them on a back foot immediately. They had to spend a lot of energy wiping those three points out.

“Mayo did everything they could but Dublin really switched it up at half time. And going in two up I knew they’d see it out.”

Between now and the start of a re-jigged and regionalised NFL Division One in mid-February, McGee expects the heated debate on the current footballing landscape to continue.

But he won’t be partaking, reading or listening to it.

“No. Dublin deserve all the credit no matter what others are saying. People chat about certain things, but watch them. Their work-rate, their intensity, that’s the players.

“They hold playing for Dublin in serious regard. There is no complacency and no off day. They have great pride in the run they are on and in that jersey. That is the obvious thing to me. They aren’t satisfied. They have all the right structures in place. So that is the challenge now for all of us again in 2021.

“Everyone wants to be a county footballer. They like the idea of it. But the main ingredient is still attitude and work-rate. If you don’t have that across the board you’ll go nowhere.

“And Dublin are outworking everyone at this moment in time. But like I said, it’s a challenge that I feel can be achieved.”

Finally, when it’s put to him he’s now entering his 17th season as a senior county footballer, he gives a chuckling exhale. He says that part of his longevity is down to having avoided serious injury and lengthy lay-offs throughout.

“I’ve been very lucky that I’ve never been under the knife. There is no doubt about it, it makes it easier at this stage of my career.

“My body is still fairly fresh. So I’m determined to get that wee bit more out of it. I’ve never had to take time off.

“It sounds like a long time but believe me it flies by. There have been so many good days. And hopefully there are more right in front of us. But there are still plenty of regrets as well.

“There have been so many highs but it’s the lows that you feel most. The Cavan game for example.”

By Frank Craig