eamonmcgee

LOOKING BACK ON A DAY LIKE NO OTHER WHEN WE REACHED PROMISED LAND

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but we just have to trust Jim and the lads.

It's hard to know what to talk about this weekend. I'm hoping we win so maybe it might be good to talk about what the day of an All-Ireland looks like. I'm not going back to 2014 — still too sore — so I'll go through the famous day of 2012.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012, 5AM

I've roomed with Michael Boyle for years now. He's used to me and my odd ways of going on.

I struggle to sleep in hotel rooms so he doesn't bat an eyelid when I tell him I went for a walk in the middle of the night, or if he wakes up at 2am and the hotel bed is empty.

The morning before the All-Ireland is different, though. We are in two separate rooms because we are in the apartments of Johnstown House.

Donegal have done their best to give every man his own room. So initially Boyler is delighted - peace and quiet.

He thinks wrong and I land into him at 5am. "I can't sleep Boyler, Wild nerves."

He doesn't take me on, "Jesus Christ. Take that iPad and get out to f**k." I mess about on his pad and within 20 minutes I'm out cold.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012, 8AM

I can never quite place my finger on it. Why I woke up like this, after my midnight nerves, but I just genuinely knew I would have a good game.

It's an incredible place to be, just knowing in your heart that you are going to perform.

Maybe some sport psychologist can explain it but I had that feeling and it was hard to tap into that feeling again.

It didn't happen enough for liking afterwards.

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 23, 2012 10AM-12.30PM

These times are guesses, by the way, because I actually don't remember much about the build up.