It’s a different world now to when Colm McFadden started off in inter-county football – and the St Michael’s man will be content to take a seat in the stand on Sunday.
Donegal open their 2017 Allianz League when they take on Kerry at O’Donnell Park.
Save for 2006, when he was at college in Liverpool, McFadden had been a part of the Donegal set up since being drafted in by Mickey Moran in late 2000.
In those early years, McFadden attended college in Galway and the demands were nowhere near as vigorous as they are now.
“That time we didn’t even have to come up for training,” McFadden said on episode 1 of Donegal Sports Talk, our new weekly podcast.
“You’d land back for the League game on the Sunday and go back to college.
“Back then you were allowed concentrate for the Sigerson and meet up at the weekend. County teams now focus on getting together more often and get more training sessions.
“When we started off we had a lot of work to do in the gym, but these are all strong, fit, young me now.”
McFadden is Donegal’s record appearance holder and record scorer of all-time, having posted 25-434 in his 170 games.
But now, ahead of the new campaign, he said: “The boys have a lot of work done and they’re well ready. I’m happy to take a seat in the stand.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO EPISODE 1 OF DONEGAL SPORTS TALK
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