Colm McFadden laments league not getting 'wee bit more value'

“There was probably nobody more disappointed than myself whenever Michael retired the previous year, I couldn’t believe it. We even took in the kids and that to watch Donegal games. Myself, after playing with him, I always loved to watch him play. You want the best players playing for your county.

“There was only one person who would change Michael's mind and that was his own. He probably felt the hunger watching on last year, seeing the team progress to an Ulster championship. Getting to an All-Ireland semi-final, he probably felt that, he probably knew he had something still to offer.

“Once he made that decision himself, it was only him who was going to bring himself back in the field. You have to admire him too. It's a courageous one. The easiest thing for him to do would have been to stay.

“Fair play to him. he's done well in the two league games he's shown for us. Hopefully, he can bring that form experience into the championship and help Donegal.” 

Along with Murphy, Eoin McHugh, Odhran McFadden-Ferry and Eoghan McGettigan have come back into the set-up this season and bolstered options for Jim McGuinness. “You can't beat boys that played that level before,” remarked McFadden. “I feel that probably our panel is in a stronger position.

“I think with the new rules, with the demands, that is probably going to be on the bodies of these boys, especially in Ulster championship football. Hopefully, if we can get over Derry and get a couple of games throughout the Ulster campaign, you know you're going to need a strong panel if you want to go deep into the championship.” 

The Anglo-Celt Cup holders had a clear two-week run to the upcoming Derry clash having missed out on last Sunday’s Division 1 final, which didn’t appear to be at the forefront of their minds.

“The timing of it is a pity because I felt it was a very good Division 1 league this year,” McFadden said. “You can't take away from that the fact that the way the final fell, it was still a competitive league, there was still a lot of very, very good games. I'd say supporters watching those games enjoyed the league too.

“It's a pity not to be able to afford it a wee bit more value because you only can win two national titles, one being Sam (Maguire Cup) and one being the league. It's a pity it didn't get a wee bit more value. The timing is... you’re only talking a couple of weeks and you could really go after it.”