“Every man has his day.”
That’s how Colm McFadden signed off a record-breaking inter-county career. Modest, humble, understated.
That’s how he marked his historic stint in Donegal colours and how he capped his unprecedented and unmatched service to his county.
Every man has his day but, God, if Colm McFadden is like every man, what the hell does that say for the rest of us?
For almost a decade and a half, it was hard to like the St. Michael’s club man. As a Derry native, you couldn’t travel to Ballybofey or welcome the other lot up the road and over the border without some sort of disdain for what McFadden’s left boot could do to you.
You could never enjoy a game against Donegal because one man with number 15 on his shirt was ready to ruin the day, every single day.
Eventually though, you just started to accept what was unfolding in front of you and appreciate that Colm McFadden was of different ilk. Jesus, you nearly started to enjoy the punishment he’d dish out to your county men.
Many a Gael would tell you the same. They probably all have their dreaded horror stories of the day Colm McFadden did this and that to them and how he cruelly, mercilessly came back for more. He was a savage patrolling the full forward line for Donegal; a blood-thirsty savage that went for jugulars like he went for O’Neill’s balls – uncompromising, unafraid, uninhibited.
And, for 14 years, he treated the GAA to something special. Through 170 appearances, he was something else.
McFadden has played more times for Donegal than anyone in his county ever has.
The attacker has played on the same team as Jim McGuinness, the same man he’d work under for four years.
He won three Ulster medals and the men from the hills’ second ever All-Ireland.
In all that space of time, he kicked 25 goals and 434 points for Donegal.
He hit 1-4 in the 2012 All-Ireland final against Mayo, the same year he won his All-Star. He led from the front – literally – during McGuinness’ first couple of seasons in charge and he was arguably the side’s most important player during that time as he attacked from the inside line sometimes all on his own.
Any task he was given, he excelled at and after 14 years of pure, unhinged dedication and commitment to the cause, he has earned the right to step down from the Donegal panel at the age of 33.
He has earned the right to go with everyone’s best wishes – even the Derry clan who’d be all too happy to wave him goodbye.
He has earned the right to be remembered as a legend.
But he deserves more than his own, modest assessment that every man his day.
Colm McFadden might well be the everyman but Lord knows that he’s better than most men. Lord knows that he’ll go down as one of the greats.
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