Declan Bonner encourages leadership from all of his players, but it was noteworthy that, in Michael Murphy’s absence, the new Donegal boss handed the captaincy to Hugh McFadden.
The Killybegs man hadn’t quite become established in the Donegal XV, but Bonner saw something to hand over the armband.
Listening to McFadden over 10 minutes, it becomes apparent why.
McFadden, it is often forgotten, had missed key years of his Gaelic football development as he spent time at Finn Harps and Sligo Rovers before parking the soccer dream to join the Donegal panel.
Last July, he started on a Donegal team hammered by Galway in an All-Ireland qualifier. The county’s meet in Letterkenny on Sunday, but revenge isn’t on the Donegal minds. Rather, this League clash is the latest step on the road to redemption.
“A win this week wouldn’t rectify it, but it would be a start,” McFadden said.
“There is no point lingering about after a game. You’re out on the field week-in, week-out.
“The National League is where we’ll find out feet before the Championship. The League is going to be hectic. We have eight weeks in a row.”
Donegal were pipped at the post by Kerry on Sunday in Killarney and McFadden said: “It was hard to take, losing by the bare minimum. It was disappointing not to get anything from the game.
“We showed character and resolve. Hopefully we can increase that to play Galway at the weekend.”
Listen to the full interview below …
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