Donegal boss Jim McGuinness on Shaun Patton and Ciaran Thompson injuries latest 

As Donegal welcomed back some big at the weekend boss Jim McGuinness gave an update on the health of Shaun Patton and Ciarán Thompson. 

Both Michael Murphy and Oisin Gallen made their first appearances of the new season as second-half substitutes with Donegal seeing off their All-Ireland foes Kerry in Ballyshannon 1-22 to 1-18. 

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Pressed after on those that remain on the treatment table, notably Patton and Thompson, the Donegal manager says that Patton isn’t too off but that Thompson won’t be rushed. 

Murphy (Achilles), Gallen and Patton (both ankle), and Thompson (ACL) all went under the knife in the off-season. And obviously, Thompson’s lay-off and rehab is more long-term. 

“Shaun is a lot closer than Ciarán,” he explained. 

Ciarán's on a specific timeline. But they're both moving in the right direction. Prior to today, we had Shaun, Oisin, Michael and Ciarán.

That list was fairly extensive. And once you start getting one or two back, it starts to fall into place, hopefully”.

Asked about Thompson possibly being good to go towards the end of the league or for the start of the Ulster SFC, McGuinness says the nature of the injury means you simply take it week by week. 

“We need to see what the timeline is. Really, it's all numbers. It's all numbers and ticking boxes and moving to the next stage of their rehab and working with the S&C coaches.

“And then there'll be a crossover at some stage where they come to us. And as long as they're handed over safely and they're good to go, we'll be happy”.