FOR a few seconds, there was the glimpse of the possible future for Donegal football in attack, and it came around six minutes from time.
Captain versatile Michael Murphy launched a high ball into the Dublin square, where substitute Hugh McFadden made a superb clean catch with two Dublin defenders left flapping in the wings.
For about three seconds it looked like a match-winning goal might be on, but McFadden was quickly swallowed up in a sea of blue.
However, the image remains powerful and real as Rory Gallagher’s young guns enter a new era.
The exit of Neil Gallagher has consigned captain Murphy to a midfield role.
But what is not to like about another towering Tir Chonaill figure on the edge of the square flanked by speed merchants like Eoin McHugh, Jamie Brennan and the physique and scoring power of Paddy McBrearty who, it is reported, will not be fit enough to start against Mattie McGleenan’s Cavan, who only have one point from two outings.
And, if McBrearty does not start, there is an even more compelling argument for the versatile McFadden to be located on the edge of the square.
Last week’s encounter had loads of positives for Gallagher’s young charges.
And perhaps the greatest was the manner in which they refused to yield when Dublin had a two-point lead and had loads of momentum.
A rattled Jim Gavin put on big guns Paul Flynn, Michael Darragh Macauley and Kevin McManamon to gain a draw.
McFadden is far too modest to comment on whether he should be a permanent fixture on the edge of the square.
“I played full forward for the U21s and came into the team as a full-forward but a place anywhere will do.
“I remember that long ball alright and I suppose we do not have an awful lot of height up front.
‘But that is the way the game has gone it is very much a running game.
“And that’s how last week’s game panned out as conditions were pretty testing and both sides tended the carry the ball from deep”.
Tonight, in Breffni Park, Hugh will be meeting Donegal’s U21 conquerors in 2014, a Cavan side that was part of a four-in-a-row Ulster champions.
“We met them at U21 level and lost to a last minute goal and then Ryan McHugh got a last minute goal to beat Cavan in 2015.
“But really this is the first real competitive meeting between the sides since 2012 so it will be a learning curve for both teams”.
“Cavan have a new manager in Mattie McGleenan and that creates its own momentum and he is pledging to play an attacking game.
“Of course they are backboned by some very good U21 teams who are well used to the habit of winning and they will be hard to beat at home.
“Darren McVeety, David Givney, Killian Clarke, Ciaran Brady and Eugene Keating are all really formidable players.
“Gearoid McKiernan also gives them a great physical presence so it will be a very tough task”.
And, even though Donegal did very well to a take a point from the Dublin match, McFadden and co are conscious that there were two scoring famine periods of 27 minutes in each half.
‘That is true as we did go for long periods without scoring and that is a negative that we will just have to work on”.
But there are also loads of positives in this free-running fresh-faced Donegal side.
They have an interesting blend of youth and experience and also have the prospect of the four-time Allstar Karl Lacey and the burly Martin McElhinney (a possible replacement for Neil Gallagher) to come back to the ranks.
And, they also the option of the super versatile Hugh McFadden for the edge of the square- forming an interesting Twin Towers with Paddy McBrearty deep in enemy territory.
Donegal should edge it, although you might not bet against a draw.
