Hugh McFadden expected to be the next member of Donegal's '100 club'

Hugh McFadden is expected to be the next member of Donegal’s 100 club, with the Killybegs clubman just two games away from the landmark.

Following the retirements last year of Michael Murphy and Neill McGee, Donegal have just two players in the current panel with over 100 appearances.

Patrick McBrearty made his 130th appearance for Donegal on Sunday in the Dr McKenna Cup against Down and his Kilcar teammate Ryan McHugh is currently on 120 appearances, according to Donegal’s GAA historian, Fr Seán O'Gallchóir.

McFadden made his senior debut at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise against Laois on February 2, 2014, under Jim McGuinness in the Allianz League Division 2. His first start came in Rory Gallagher’s first match in charge, away to Derry in the 2015 Dr McKenna Cup in Owenbeg and four weeks later was in from the start in the Division 1 clash with the Oak Leaf County in Ballybofey.

In the 2015 Ulster SFC quarter-final win in Armagh, McFadden made his championship debut as a substitute and started the All-Ireland fourth round qualifier against Galway at Croke Park that August.

Here's the nine Donegal debutants from their Dr McKenna Cup clash against Down

Paddy Carr's first match in charge of Donegal ended up in a 2-14 to 1-10 defeat to Down in the Dr McKenna Cup in Newry, where the new manager gave nine players their first appearances for the seniors

McFadden was the last man bar Michael Murphy to captain Donegal in a championship match, when he led out the team against Derry in the 2021 Ulster SFC in Ballybofey.