Paddy McGrath’s impressive run of 43 Senior Championship games in a row came to an end on Sunday.
The Ardara corner-back had played in all 43 SFC games for Donegal since his debut in 2010 against Down.
McGrath’s run is over after he sat out Donegal’s 2-20 to 1-15 win over Down at Sean Mac Cumhaill Park on Sunday.
The defender, who has won an All-Ireland and three Ulster SFC crowns with Donegal, was hit by a posterior knee ligament injury last autumn.
He had only made his comeback in the final game of the League, as he played 58 minutes of the draw with Mayo.
Patrick McBrearty has now played 42 consecutive Championship games, having appeared in each one form his debut against Antrim in the 2011 preliminary round.
Sunday’s game also took full-back Neil McGee onto 61 Championship games for Donegal – he is now just four behind Karl Lacey’s Championship record of 65.
Donegal manager Declan Bonner says McGrath is ‘very close’ to a return,, as is Odhrán Mac Niallais.
Bonner said: “There’s plenty of guys to come back into it yet and we need the big squad because the games are going to come thick and fast.
“They are very close but they’ve missed the last number of weeks, it’s just trying to get them up to speed now in a short space of time. We’ll get back training now and we’ll take it from there.”
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