Sport

McFadden hails Donegal's strength of character after win over Derry

Donegal's Hugh McFadden says there is room for improvement ahead of their Ulster SFC semi-final with Tyrone after their narrow one-point win oer Derry Picture: Philip Walsh.
Donegal's Hugh McFadden says there is room for improvement ahead of their Ulster SFC semi-final with Tyrone after their narrow one-point win oer Derry Picture: Philip Walsh. Donegal's Hugh McFadden says there is room for improvement ahead of their Ulster SFC semi-final with Tyrone after their narrow one-point win oer Derry Picture: Philip Walsh.

FOR once Donegal’s eloquent, hard-working midfielder Hugh McFadden was almost at a loss for words as he reflected on Donegal’s great escape to victory.

But there was certainly an element of Lazarus and Houdini in the way Donegal twice wriggled out of a four-points deficit to eventually win by the minimum margin against Derry in Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final in Ballybofey.

McFadden played his part in that victory, most notably early on when he made two vital interceptions as Derry bore down on the Donegal goal.

“It was a very tense type of a game, and we knew that Derry were going to bring a great challenge and that is exactly what they did.

“Their performances in Division Three were of a very high calibre and they had a very good window to prepare coming into our game.

“I don’t think the bookies odds on this match reflected Derry’s sheer quality and Rory [Gallagher] has got the best players playing for Derry for quite a while and they were very impressive, and we are just relieved to come out with a one-point victory."

While their undoubted footballing ability was enough to swat aside Down in the preliminary round, Donegal were forced to call upon their mental strength in an absorbing battle with their neighbours which threatened to see one of the hot favourites for this year's Anglo-Celt tumbling out in the last eight.

“I though the crucial thing was the character that we showed out there," said McFadden.

“Niall O’Donnell was phenomenal and Paddy McBrearty was marked by Chris McKaigue, one of the best markers in Ulster and Paddy showed character, class and quality to kick that vital score.

“I thought Odhran MacNiallais was very influential when he came on to the field and Brendan McCole went on Shane McGuigan for much of the second half. So yes, the story of the game was that Derry were excellent but we showed great resilience and character to come out of Ballybofey with a one-point win”.

Possibly the biggest game-changer was the introduction of Michael Murphy when Donegal were four points down going into the final quarter.

The talismanic captain had an immediate effect, winning a free and converting and drawing up to three players around him when he got the ball.

He and Odhran MacNiallais created the necessary space for the highly impressive Niall O’Donnell to shoot those vital points that hauled Donegal back into contention.

“There is no need for me to allude to Michael’s qualities and the leadership he brings to us," said McFadden.

“He brings massive attention, he won a free and scored a free and was a big turning point in us getting over the line."

The narrow win sets up a mouthwatering Ulster semi-final against Tyrone in Brewster Park on Sunday. Donegal may have sent the Red Hands crashing out of last year's Ulster Championship, but their tight tussle with Derry has highlighted the highly competitive nature of the provincial championship.

McFadden revealed they were wary of an in-form Derry side going into the match and knew it would be a step up from their rather facile win over the Mournemen. However, he still sees areas for improvement if they are to book a place in their fourth Ulster final on the trot.

“Football is a funny game.

“We would know the qualities of other teams in Ulster," McFadden said.

“We put up a huge score against Down, but the actual game did not reflect that trouncing.

“We knew coming into this game that Derry were a very good team.

“There is very little between the four teams left in the competition.

“But there were facets of our performance today that were not up to the standard that we would like them to be.

“So, the management will go away and work on that and think of the things that we need to do better as we face into the Tyrone game."

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