Eamon McGee and Christy Toye formed a formidable bond both on and off the pitch which may be attributed to their time spent time sharing the same bed during the pairs college days.
However, it was in secondary school where their friendship blossomed. Due to the fact that Toye's mother taught at Eamon McGee's school in Falcarragh, they encountered one another on a few occasions. Yet, on the pitch is where respect was earned as they competed against each other on a number occasions at schoolboy level.
They progressed through the ranks and soon graduated from secondary school. Both McGee and Toye, along with Kevin Cassidy, were accepted to Sligo IT. Naturally, they went in search of student accommodation but found the ideal house hard to come by. As many already know, beggars can't be choosers - so they improvised.
McGee told of the accommodation arrangements in his Irish Daily Star column.
We went househunting one day but decided to have a couple pints to steel ourselves. One thing led to another...Before long, we were on the beer in Galway.
All that we could find was a place with two bedrooms and two beds - a single and a double.
We drew lots. Cass won and got the single room. Myself and Christy had to share a double bed for the year. We were like Bert and Ernie on Sesame Street.
Eamon McGee would eventually win an All-Ireland and multiple Ulster titles with Christy Toye. All the while finding club success with Kevin Cassidy. But time has past and it is another member of Ghaoth Dobhair who finds himself in the spotlight - Odhrán Mac Niallais. The young Donegal player attracted attention for his performances in the green and gold shirt in recent years but has opted out of Rory Gallagher's team for the 2017 season.
McGee believes that it shouldn't raise concern among supporters.
Many don't realise just how much of your life that you have to devote to inter-county football at the top level. Odhran had a broad outlook on life and a break could be very good for him....He's just doing something that the likes of Jack McCaffrey and Jamie Clarke have done.
