JASON MCGEE says he’s ‘thrilled’ to be given a chance to stake a claim for a spot in the 2017 Donegal senior football squad.
The Cloughaneely midfielder, who was joint captain of the League and Championship-winning Donegal minor team in 2016, is one of four members of this year’s minor squad to be given a call by senior boss Rory Gallagher.
McGee is joined by Termon’s Enda McCormick, Naomh Padraig, Muff’s Aidan McLaughlin and Naomh Conaill’s Eoghan McGettigan.
The quartet are likely be handed an opportunity to impress in the Dr McKenna Cup, which gets underway in January.
[adrotate group=”86″]“It’s a good thrill to be giving it a rattle,” McGee told Donegal Sport Hub at a function to honour this year’s minors last night in Ballybofey.
Picture caption: Jason McGee (left) lifts the Ulster MFC title with joint captain Niall O’Donnell at Clones in July. Picture by Geraldine Diver.
“It’s a great experience being up around the likes of Michael Murphy, working in the gym and seeing the work they put in.”
McGee will also be on the Declan Bonner-managed Donegal Under-21 panel in 2017.
[adrotate group=”85″]He said: “There is a savage under-21 team there when the whole panel is fit. Everyone could start in the side. There’s serious competition there.”
McGee was captain, alongside Niall O’Donnell from St Eunan’s, of this year’s minor squad, winning the Ulster League and Championship.
The highlight of the year, says McGee, was the Ulster MFC final win over Derry at Clones.
[adrotate group=”81″]McGee said: “The Ulster final was a great experience. We felt on top of the world. It was a great experience to be joint captain of a great panel.”
The four minors are joined in getting call-ups to Gallagher’s senior ranks by Cian Mulligan (Gaoth Dobhair), Conor Morrison (St Eunan’s), Mark Coyle (Burt), Christy Fildara (Malin), Michael Langan (St Michael’s) and Brendan McCole (St Naul’s).
Gallagher said: “It is very important that we’re all on the one level. We have to get those lads up to the level and they know what the physical side of it is about. They’re all promising players and we’re looking forward to integrating them into our group.”
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