Brendan McCole’s rise as Neil McGee’s heir in Donegal’s number three shirt took him by surprise.
There was a chastening experience in the 2019 Division Two final against Meath. Called ashore after only 13 minutes, with McGee heading in the other direction, McCole could have put the head down and disappeared.
He has become a formidable presence in the jersey this year and was man of the match in that win over Armagh after impressively shackling Rian O’Neill.