DONEGAL ARE GIVING little away on the appeals process surrounding full-back Neil McGee, but manager Rory Gallagher says he is planning without the Gaoth Dobhair man.
McGee was sent off late in the first half of the Ulster quarter-final against Fermanagh on Sunday-week last and is facing a two-game suspension.
Donegal are still keeping their fingers crossed that they could get the three-time All-Star a reprieve, but are keeping tight-lipped on an appeal.
At a press conference in Ballybofey yesterday, members of the media were prevented from enquiring about the incident or the appeal, which is understood to have been lodged with Croke Park on Friday.
[adrotate group=”43″]Donegal have a quick turnaround with Saturday’s game against Monaghan coming only 13 days after their 2-12 to 0-11 win over Fermanagh.
Gallagher was asked if he was assembling his jigsaw without McGee, one of his cornerstones.
“We’d be foolish not to be,” Gallagher said.
“He’s out of the game and it’s something we have to deal with. Since half-time in the Fermanagh game he’s been suspended.
[adrotate group=”53″]“It’s no different to being without any player. You just have to move on. That’s the reason you have a squad. These things always happen.
“I remember in 2012 playing Tyrone in a huge game. He twinged the hamstring in the warm-up and was gone after two minutes. We’d love to have him but we move on if we don’t.”
Gallagher mentioned that Karl Lacey, the 2012 Footballer of the Year, is nearing full fitness again and could be the man to step into the void. Lacey didn’t tog out against Fermanagh, owing to a calf strain, but the Donegal town man is ready again, his manager said.
[adrotate group=”70″]Gallagher commented: “Whether Neil is there or not, Karl is that good a player he would be playing one way or the other if he is fit. He has a good reservoir of fitness built up, he looks after himself an awful lot.
“He had a very late start getting back to action, his body is in really good shape. It was disappointing from his own point of view to pick up the niggle but all being well this week he will be fine.”
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