WHEN Jim McGuinness was asked if he would do an open training session so that the fans could come along, he said: “No problem!”
And today the only problem was that an incredible 5,000 fans turned up to watch…making the search for a car parking space in Ballybofey that wee bit more difficult!
The Donegal senior players didn’t disappoint, sitting for ages as they fulfilled every single autograph request from the throngs, most of them children.
Said Kathleen Campbell, who helped to organise the event: “I thought it would be a good idea for the younger ones because so many won’t be able to get tickets to the All-Ireland final.
“When I rang Jim to ask if he would let people in to watch, he said he’d be delighted. It was a great day – and fantastic for the fans.
“We are really grateful to Jim, the squad and the staff.”
The players thought a few hundred people would turn up at MacCumhaill Park, but in the end more than 5,000 people did, many joining in the singing of ‘Jimmy’s Winning Matches’ as they waited to meet their heroes.
If you took some great pix today, send them to info@donegaldaily.com.
ABOVE: MARY MCGINLEY WITH A T-SHIRT SIGNED BY THE 92 TEAM WAS THERE TO GET THE 2012 LINE-UP