Colm McFadden return boosts options for Rory Gallagher

Colm McFadden’s return to the Donegal bench, and then to the pitch as a late substitute, was a crumb of comfort for manager Rory Gallagher to take from a difficult evening in Dublin. The 2012 All-Ireland winner and All Star hadn’t featured until now because of a calf injury.

However, fellow veteran Neil McGee’s absence was intriguing as he was named to play, having served his suspension for a one-match ban arising from an incident in the Kerry game.

It was presumed that the broken nose sustained by McGee during that flashpoint in Kerry, had sidelined him, though Gallagher explained the situation.