NEIL McGee has handed Declan Bonner a massive boost ahead of the 2021 season by confirming he’ll be back on board with Donegal come January.

The Tir Chonaill men suffered a shock Ulster final defeat to Cavan back in November and it’s a sour note the Gaoth Dobhair man has no intention of letting a glittering inter-county career end on.

“Listen, on the day Cavan were the better side,” he told the Gaelic Life. “We can’t deny that. We just did not show up. That’s what hurts the most. We just did not get going.

“They went down to 14 men twice. So it wasn’t luck on their part. They were full value for it. We prepared well. We went into the game in a very positive frame of mind.

“We weren’t complacent. Our management had their homework done on Cavan. We knew what to expect. But it was one of those evenings and in Ulster, that will happen if you don’t find the level that is required to get over the line.”

With so much emotion and effort invested into such a short window of time, McGee admits that it’s still hard to accept that things ended for Donegal in the manner they did.

“We wanted to give the Donegal supporters another day out. And it wasn’t about getting a shot at Dublin. But that would have been so good for the team as it would have shown exactly where we’re at. But it just wasn’t to be. We’ve lessons to learn.

“I still believe that a lot of lads in the group really stepped up and showed they are at the level now. There are some positives to take back into the new season with us.”

After impressive displays against both Tyrone and Armagh, McGee was one of the few players who left the Athletic Grounds with his reputation still intact.

He says collectively, they just didn’t fire in Armagh. It still hurts. But the quick turnaround between campaigns meant it was an easy enough decision to put his hand up once again.

“The new season kicks off again early enough. It’s really only around the corner.

“The only way you get something like that out of the system is to get back at it. Make it right.

“We’re lucky in a sense that we don’t have to wait too long. Any other year you’d be stewing for a while. The time frame definitely was a factor in my decision.

“Had it been July, it might have been a different story. To look to get back to that level again down the track… the work we’ve under the belt means we’ll get back up to speed pretty quickly in January.”

By Frank Craig