Retirements

[StephenC]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

He never had a flawless season like McFadden did in 2012.

I think he was more consistent over his career than McFadden though.

I would agree with this. Paddy a level above because he delivered relatively consistently over 14 years. Colm Anthony had several solid years and one exceptional one.

[thewobbler]

A question for Donegal men on here.
Was Mc Brearty better than Colm Mc Fadden ?

He never had a flawless season like McFadden did in 2012.

I think he was more consistent over his career than McFadden though.

I would agree with this. Paddy a level above because he delivered relatively consistently over 14 years. Colm Anthony had several solid years and one exceptional one.

Colm McFadden was an exceptional winter footballer throughout his career, but only became a proper championship game winning forward towards the end of it.

Paddy would shade that one for me.

[gallsman]

Not to get to deep into it but you probably need a few more tiers in that debate. Sweeney for example was capable of winning any game, but he might be best described as a great man to win you an Ulster quarter final. Devenney as well. Kind of like Johnny Crowley in Kerry, although Crowley's ceiling probably a bit higher than either. I'd have mcbrearty ahead of the pair of them for sure but below Murphy and Lacey. Recency bias and medals count for sure.

[mackers]

Paddy always came across as a decent skin along with being a superb footballer.  I remember him trying to diffuse a situation between a fourth official and a former manager of his in the Athletic Grounds but failing miserably.  There were no manners in the manager concerned.

[Hand of God]

Think I'd go with McFadden. McBrearty was playing the football of his life up until the dresses ACL and never looked near anything like that player again.

McGuinness biggest mistake was not starting him in the 2014 AI final. Donegal were flat all game until McBrearty came on and he hit a few points in a short space of time.

McFadden always had the potential and ability but never really reached that with the party boy culture that was in place in Donegal before McGuinness arrived but when that took place he became one of the top forwards in the game.

I'm edge for McFadden due to his impact at the latter end of the Championship.

[Armamike]

Always really feared him when playing against us - thought he was a very dangerous player.  He seemed to be able to pop up and get important scores.  His body must be feeling the effects now of playing inter county since his teenage years. 

[Fogarty]

I think that was the day Antrim beat them yeah.

The knee has clearly been impeding him for a few years now.

McGuinness's heavy training methods hardly helped.