Prior to the arrival of Jim McGuinness, the Donegal footballers were a bunch who prioritised the social aspects of life above their chosen sport.
Speaking on Saturday's Off the Ball, Eamon McGee told a story from that era of Donegal football which he said was a 'mild' example of their antics at the time.
McGee explained that there were a number of 'headers' around the panel, but that he was merely a follower in this respect rather than a leader.
Still, back in 2006, he went on a session which started in Donegal, headed for Carlow, quickly rerouted to Galway, made a pitstop at a funeral and then made a final stop in Clare.
I'm remember back to 2006 and it was Paddy's Day. I decided to go for one pint on the Friday, which turned into a massive session.
We were due to play Clare on the Sunday and I missed the bus and I thought to myself 'oh no, what am I going to do?' So I jumped in a taxi and told to him to take me to Carlow. This is from Donegal and I'm on my way to Carlow.
I rang Brian McIver [Donegal manager at the time] and he said 'Jesus. Eamon, we're down in Clare here'. So I cut across the country and landed in Galway.
That was the type of thing that was going on and that was mild.
Obviously I didn't start that Sunday.
The taxi actually left me off in a pub where there was a traveller's funeral going on.
I got one of my mates in Galway to pick me up and drop me in Clare.
The 2012 All-Ireland winner clarified that he did indeed find time for a couple of pints at that funeral.
Two quick pints with the boys, they were good craic. That's deadly serious.
It took a man well versed in that type of behaviour himself to curtail the shenanigans.
It wasn't until Jim McGuinness came along and knew what we were about and said that it couldn't continue.
You can listen to McGee, Anthony Moyles and John Heslon on Off the Ball's 'Saturday Panel' below.
Picture credit: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
