Neil will go down as one of Donegal’s greats
because unfortunately they are forgotten about a lot, it is brilliant.”
The main argument in favour of shifting the climax of the Championships to later in the summer centres around the promotional space that the GAA is conceding to other sports.
But Hegarty replied:“I do understand that argument. But, again, I'm talking from a player's point of view – which I am – it's incredible for the players.
“You know when the season is going to end. Club championship fixtures are announced well in advance. Club
players can plan holidays during the summer.
“They know when they are going to be playing, the club players get a concrete view of when they're going to be playing.
Finish
“The inter-county players know when the inter-county season ends, when they're going to get a break before club championship and during it, and when it will finish.
“I see from people just talking about it that you'd meet on the street and they are saying, ‘Isn't it awful there's no games on in August?'
“It is but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. I believe there is no perfect solution to it, but I believe the split season this year has been a major success.”
With Hegarty's St Patrick's eliminated from the Limerick JAHC, his 2022 season is effectively over now having decided against playing football for the club this year, though he admits he hasn't canvassed his clubmates' views.
“I haven't been talking to them about the split season itself, but from an inter-county players' point of view the season is so long and it's so taxing.
“Most inter-county players would have been training since last November or maybe even earlier.”
EAMON McGee reckons his wee brother Neil will go down as one of the Donegal greats.
McGee, who turns 37 in November, retired yesterday as one of the most decorated footballers in Donegal GAA history.
The Gaoth Dobhair man holds one All-Ireland, five Ulster titles, three All Stars, one Donegal Championships and an Ulster club title.
McGee also represented Ireland in the International Rules series.
The only Donegal footballer with more All Stars than McGee is Karl Lacey (4), while Michael Murphy also has an All-Ireland, five Ulsters and three All Stars, as well as three Donegal titles.
Debut
McGee's retirement means there are only three inter-county footballers left from this year's Championship who made their debut in the same season or earlier than he did — Laois man Ross Munnelly (39), Offaly's Niall McNamee (37) and Antrim's Michael McCann (37).
McGee made his Donegal debut in the 2005 McKenna Cup and was still a starter in 2020 at 34 — a remarkable feat for a defender operating at the highest level — before injury caught up with him that season.
A back problem sustained against Tyrone was the beginning of his issues, with spasms hitting him every few months after that.
McGee — a pipe layer — appeared briefly at the end of this year's Ulster semi-final victory over Cavan, but that marked the end for the teak-tough defender.
He announced the news yesterday after earlier popping a message into a Whatsapp group he has with his brothers.
It’s just over a decade since Jim McGuinness orchestrated Donegal’s remarkable All-Ireland coup, as the county landed their second Sam Maguire with McGee to the fore.
His retirement brings back some happy memories for brother Eamon, and they weren't all revolving around winning big games and Championships.
Eamon McGee said: “We have had a good career. We have been relatively successful in terms of the club and the county.
“The winning is satisfying but when you look back 10 years, or go back 20 years, that's when the real good feelings come — what it was all about.
“The memories come back in terms of the journeys.
“It was good crack too. When we were going down on the bus after an Ulster final win, or any of the Croke Park wins, me and Neill would have been challenging each other.
“I would have went up to the mic, or Neil would have went up to the mic.
‘You are only a pussy,' ‘I'm the hardest McGee,' or something like that.
“The boys used to laugh and start winding me up. You see, I kept on taking the bait with a few in me. I'd be away up challenging him then. Just good memories.
“I'd go up the mic then and call him out. It was just good crack.
Clash
“All the lads used to love this when the two of us would clash. They really, really enjoyed it.”
McGee continues: “There were great times on the field too.
“I was chatting to Mickey Conroy (former Mayo forward) at ‘Center Parcs' last week. I think it was one of the best lines I have heard on the field in a long time.
“He couldn't stop laughing. Kieran Shannon was in doing a bit of sports psych with Mayo, the time we beat them in 2012 (AllIreland final).
“After the second goal, Neil said to Mickey, ‘What would Kieran Shannon have to say about these two goals now? Has he prepared you for them?'