BY MATTHEW WILSON
HUGH McFadden is expecting a tough test this Saturday evening when Donegal travel to Croke Park for their National League opener against Dublin.
Donegal are coming into this opening league encounter off the back of last Saturday’s Dr McKenna Cup success where they secured a 12-point win over Monaghan at Healy Park in Omagh.
It was a good performance from Jim McGuinness’s side and Hugh McFadden produced a Man of the Match display in the middle of the park, firing over two fine scores in Act One.
McFadden feels that the margin of victory mightn’t have reflected the game as a whole but expressed that they’re pleased with how things unfolded.
“Yeah look, I don’t think the scoreline does it justice in terms of how tight it was at times. Monaghan probably had a lot of wides there throughout the first half and they’d a few two-point wides in the second half which would’ve left the game in a different situation if they converted them.
“Obviously, the goal and one or two two-pointers for us towards the end put a gloss on it all but we’re happy with how it went.”
Four points separated the two teams at the interval, with Shea Malone’s first half major proving to be a big difference at the break.
Both outfits made a host of changes for the second stanza and with Gabriel Bannigan being without the services of his Scotstown contingent, the Killybegs man stated that they’re not getting too carried away.
“That’s probably the nature of the game there in terms of how many subs came on. Monaghan are obviously missing a large contingent considering the Scotstown players aren’t available to them and one or two others so we won’t get too carried away.”
Jim McGuinness has integrated several youngsters into the group this term, with a lot of players making their mark so far when the opportunity has presented itself.
Shea Malone had a superb outing last Saturday against the Farney men, slotting in two goals, while the likes of Turlough Carr, Max Campbell and Kevin Muldoon also impressed at Healy Park.
McFadden discussed that it’s an exciting time for Donegal football, with the younger individuals adding a freshness to the camp.
“Yeah, it’s an exciting time and they’ve brought a freshness, energy and enthusiasm into the group. Obviously there’s a lot of good underage pedigree between them and all of the young boys have brought a real desire to improve and to add something to the team which is exciting.”
With three games in the space of six days in the Dr McKenna Cup, the Donegal boss rotated his squad for the three outings and got substantial minutes under the belt of a lot of players, leaving him with a competitive squad to choose from ahead of the league according to McFadden.
“Jim and the lads sat down with a good plan I’m sure, with the aim to get minutes into a lot of fellas in the last week and that’s the way that it’s kind of transpired. It gives him a nice competitive squad to pick from going towards Dublin now next week.”
The reigning Ulster champions will head to GAA Headquarters this Saturday evening for a meeting with Dublin at 5pm.
Dublin are under new management this term, with former player Ger Brennan leaving the position of Louth manager in recent months to return to his native county and they’ll be looking to hit the ground running also.
Despite having an early piece of silverware under their belt, the Killybegs man stated that Donegal have a tough test ahead of them when they head to the capital, expecting that Dublin will come with real energy.
“Nobody will read too much into the McKenna Cup after next Saturday night and that’s just the nature of it. Dublin are going to come with a serious energy, they’re a fantastic team. They’ve got a new manager and a lot of good players so we’re going to be up against it next week.”
