'Michael Langan and I can form a great midfield partnership when fully fit' - McGee

It took until the third last weekend of spring in 2024 for the tide to turn for Jason McGee. 

The Donegal star has been plagued by injuries since the start of the year having only played one match throughout the league campaign, which was the Division 2 final victory over Armagh on Easter Sunday in Croke Park. 

His most recent game before that was on January 7, when Donegal overcame Tyrone in a McKenna Cup group game at a fog-engulfed Healy Park where McGee and his teammates emerged victorious. 

But through his injury, whatever loss of form or lack of match fitness the local punters may have thought the Cloughaneely man had prior to last Saturday’s game, they certainly weren’t thinking that following Donegal’s 4-11 to 0-17 point win over Mickey Harte’s Derry.  

It wasn’t something that sank in until I got home that night and I thought about it, there was just mad adrenaline after the game,” the midfielder said. “It was a win we knew we had in us, and we had full intentions of turning Derry over. 

“I think we just grew into ourselves so much as the game went on. It’s a terrific team to be a part of at the minute and now we look forward to Tyrone on Sunday.” 

It appeared to be a complete tactical masterclass from Jim McGuinness and his team who slotted four goals past Derry’s Odhran Lynch, with Shaun Patton taking advantage of the space behind Lynch, who would come out to midfield to win possession. 

The space behind the midfield line would then be exploited by Donegal’s runners, with three of their four goals coming from long-ranged shots into the net. 

“I think Shaun (Patton) has one of the most accurate kicks and biggest boots in the country and you mix that with the height we have around the middle of the field, and the doggedness from some of the other lads to win the breaks, it’s something we know we can use to our advantage if we utilise Shaun’s kickouts as much as possible,” McGee said. 

“When you’re in the middle of it, a lot of the atmosphere goes over your head but once I came off, I got to sit there and look around for the last five minutes or so, the buzz was mighty, the support was unbelievable again which is great to see.” 

McGee also acknowledged that he wishes to develop his partnership with St Michael’s star Michael Langan even further, an individual who has also been down on his luck with injuries since McGuinness’s return to the managerial hotseat. 

But McGee admits the ability and potential is there for both players to dominate the midfield area together if fully fit. 

“I know myself and Michael (Langan) have struggled with injury over the last few years, I have more so this year, but if we push on and stay fit, we can build a really good partnership together in midfield,” said McGee. 

“We know we have that potential, it’s just about tying everything together. Look, we take nothing away from Conor Glass or Brendan Rodgers and what they bring to the table, they’ve managed to stay fit and stay on the field every game, that’s something for me and Michael to work on now. 

“It’s hard when you’re not fit to train and you’re watching the boys dog it out, but thankfully we have a good medical team. It’s been a long three months for me trying to get back to fitness, now it’s just about staying fit and staying on the field. 

“We have other lads that are struggling with injury and looking to get back to match fitness too, they’re training away and trying to get back available for selection, that will add more and more depth to the team as a result.”