Team News: Donegal make one change to starting XV with Patton deemed fit to start

Donegal team captain Patrick McBrearty is expected to start, while Shaun Patton retains his place in goals for this Sunday’s clash in Celtic Park when Jim McGuinness’s side face off against Tyrone in the Ulster semi-final. 

The St Eunan’s goalkeeper was replaced by Gavin Mulreany during the second half of last week’s 4-11 to 0-17 point win over Derry but is said to have recovered for this weekend’s match. 

Naomh Columba’s Aaron Doherty drops to the bench as McBrearty returns to the starting lineup in the corner-forward position alongside Oisin Gallen and Niall O’Donnell. 

It’ll be the Kilcar man’s first official start since Donegal’s Division 2 win against Meath in MacCumhaill Park last month, although he did come off the bench for O’Donnell midway through the second half last week in the championship.  

The lineup sees Peadar Mogan move from the corner-back position to half-back, while St Eunan’s man Shane O’Donnell moves into the half-forward line, while his brother Niall is shifted in the corner. 

Michael Langan is expected to continue his formidable partnership with Jason McGee in midfield. 

Donegal have named the same matchday 26 as last week with Caolan McColgan, Eoghan Ban Gallagher and Conor O’Donnell missing out yet again. 

For Tyrone, they make one change to their starting XV with Liam Gray, who scored the Red Hand County’s all-important goal last week in their victory over Cavan, replaced by Joe Oguz who came on the field on the hour mark to help his side to victory in extra time. 

Conn Kilpatrick is named on the bench, with the midfielder returning to the panel after he was injured for the Cavan outing, but Conor Meyler, Frank Burns, and Peter Harte remain absent from Brian Dooher’s team. 

Donegal team: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Shane O’Donnell, Ciarán Thompson, Daire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O’Donnell. 

Tyrone team: Niall Morgan; Conal Devlin, Padraig Hampsey, Michael McKernan; Sean O’Donnell, Matthew Donnelly, Niall Devlin; Brian Kennedy, Aodhan Donaghy; Ciaran Daly, Kieran McGeary, Joe Oguz; Darren McCurry, Darragh Canavan, Ruarí Canavan.