 As well as being at university, McFadden was at this time in his third year at minor, leading Moran to assume McFadden was older.McFadden sat on the bench for a Donegal game in Tuam and did not play.After this, Moran approached McFadden and advised him to concentrate on playing with the minor team, telling him that he would be interested in reviewing McFadden's progress the following year.