Hugh McFadden hoping to put injury frustrations behind him

Hugh McFadden admits he’s not a good spectator but the experienced Killybegs man finally hopes his injury issues are now firmly behind him. 

Donegal, after a difficult enough opening half, eventually got to grips with Fermanagh in Letterkenny on Saturday to run out emphatic 2-16 to 0-8 winners.

McFadden was sprung for the last quarter of an hour and, speaking after, he says he’s now keen to make up for lost time. 

“I’m just delighted to be back, it was a frustrating period. It’s just positive to get minutes on the pitch. Watching from the sideline, even at training, it’s been so encouraging to see the work the lads are putting in. 

“You just want to be out there beside them. So that was the motivation. But everyone goes through periods where they’re out, injured or just wee niggles. Hopefully, now, I’m working my way back”. 

Pressed on the nature of the issue or issues that curtailed his involvement up until this point, the player explained that a number of residual niggles, carried over from last term, just needed some time to clear up. 

“No (there was no surgery), it was just a few things that sort of accumulated coming out of the club championship. It took a little longer than expected to get a handle on but I just needed to be patient. 

“I’m that little bit older too so you sometimes have to pull the reins back and listen to your body. I  wanted to make sure that I was completely right. Sometimes, if you rush these things and try to get back too quickly, you can end up back at square one.

“We’ve so many good players now competing for places that you have to earn every single minute. You’re eager to get going but, like I said, I’m just happy to be back on the grass”. 

Donegal now turn attention towards the bearpit that is The Box-It Athletic Grounds next Sunday and an Armagh side he says, under Kiran McGeeney, takes no prisoners. 

“It’ll be a good tussle. They’ve maybe had the upper hand on us in recent games. So that’ll be something we’d like to rectify. It’s another two points up for grabs and I’m sure we’ll turn attention to that early in the week”.