Shaun Patton is 99 not out and in line to be Donegal's next 100-club member

Donegal goalkeeper Shaun Patton is the next man in line to reach the 100-appearance milestone for the county.

The St Eunan’s netminder made his 99th appearance in the 1-26 to 1-20 win over Monaghan in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final at Croke Park on Saturday, having debuted against the same team back in the 2018 Dr McKenna Cup in Clones. The now 29-year-old appeared in the championship for Donegal for the first time against Cavan that same year.

With the figures supplied with thanks from Fr Sean Ó Gallchóir, Patton, if selected against Meath in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week, will be the fifth Donegal goalkeeper to reach 100.  Paul Durcan (137), Gary Walsh (133), Noel McCole (123) and Séamus Hoare (107) are the other netminders over 100.

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Eight Donegal players from the current panel have 100 or more appearances, the most recent of which was Michael Langan, who reached the landmark on Saturday last.

Michael Murphy (189), Patrick McBrearty (165), Ryan McHugh (153), Hugh McFadden (133), Ciarán Thompson (123), Jamie Brennan (114) and Eoghan Bán Gallagher (111) previously made it past the double-digits. 

Donegal’s sideline is also well-stacked, with mentors Neil McGee and Colm McFadden having amassed a record 194 and 173 outings respectively, while manager Jim McGuinness played 90 times.

St Eunan’s have had six players in the bracket, with Rory Kavanagh on 146, Noel McCole 123, John Hannigan 114, Seamus Hoare 107, Brendan Devenney reaching 104 and Mark Crossan 101.

To date, Patton has played 42 championship games, 47 in the league, and 10 in the Dr McKenna Cup, scoring 0-9. He is a four-time Ulster SFC winner, in 2018, 2019, 2024 and 2025, helped Donegal to Allianz NFL Division 2 crowns in 2019 and 2024 and was victorious in the Donegal SFC with St Eunan's in 2021 and again in 2024.