RORY Gallagher has kept faith with the same Donegal team that defeated Derry for Sunday’s Ulster final against Monaghan.
Leo McLoone, who was drafted into the panel after Donegal’s win over Derry last month, has been named among the substitutes.
It is the first time that the Naomh Conaill man’s name has appeared on a Donegal teamsheet since last year’s All-Ireland final and it’s likely that he’ll see a slice of action at some stage.
It is Donegal’s fifth Ulster final in a row and for three players – Paul Durcan, Karl Lacey and Colm McFadden – Sunday’s game at St Tiernach’s Park, Clones represents a new record for Donegal men.
The experienced trio will play in their seventh Ulster finals.
As a mark of the experience of the Donegal team, full-back Neil McGee is lining out in his 49th consecutive Championship game while it’s a 29th on the spin for Durcan and Paddy McGrath.
21-year-old Patrick McBrearty, (pictured above), who has been passed fit after appearing to be inhibited by a knee injury during the win over Derry, will feature in his 27th consecutive championship contest.
“We’ve been very consistent in the Ulster Championship over the last number of years and everybody wants to make the most out of the period they’re in,” Gallagher said as he bids to become only the third Donegal manager – after Brian McEniff and Jim McGuinness – to bring the Anglo-Celt back to the county.
Monaghan manager Malachy O’Rourke has made two changes to his team with Owen Duffy and Stephen Gollogly coming in for Kieran Duffy and Owen Lennon.
DONEGAL (Ulster SFC final v Monaghan): Paul Durcan; Paddy McGrath, Neil McGee, Eamon McGee; Ryan McHugh, Karl Lacey, Frank McGlynn; Neil Gallagher, Martin McElhinney; Christy Toye, Odhrán MacNiallais, Martin O’Reilly; Patrick McBrearty, Michael Murphy, Colm McFadden.
Subs: Mark Anthony McGinley, Anthony Thompson, Eamonn Doherty, Mark McHugh, Hugh McFadden, Ciaran McGinley, David Walsh, Declan Walsh, Gary McFadden, Leo McLoone, Darach O’Connor.
MONAGHAN: Rory Beggan; Dessie Mone, Vinny Corey, Ryan Wylie; Colin Walshe, Fintan Kelly, Karl O’Connell; Neil McAdam, Darren Hughes; Owen Duffy, Stephen Gollogly, Shane Carey; Dermot Malone, Kieran Hughes, Conor McManus.
Subs: Cian Mohan, Kieran Duffy, Conor Boyle, Drew Wylie, John McCarron, Owen Lennon, Dick Clerkin, Paul Finlay, Ryan McAnespie, Thomas Kerr, Paul Meegan.
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