Donegal boss Paddy Carr gives Shaun Patton injury update

Paddy Carr says first choice stopper Shaun Patton should be good to go by the time All-Ireland champions Kerry come to Ballybofey on Sunday, January 29. 

The St Eunan’s netminder wasn’t involved in any of Donegal’s McKenna Cup outings in the past week - losses away to Down and at home to Monaghan. 

However the new boss says Patton - who has been rehabbing a niggly leg complaint back to health the past number of weeks - should be available to once again take his place between the posts by the time the Kingdom come to town for that eagerly anticipated opening NFL fixture. 

“Shaun should be back in contention for Kerry,” he said. “Of course I have to ultimately rely on the advice of the medical team but Shaun is in a very good place right now. The last week or so, it’s given us the chance to look at back up and, I have to say, both Michael (Lynch) and Gavin (Mulreany) have acquitted themselves well in Shaun’s absence”.

Meanwhile, Carr admits the unique logistics of assembling his squad for both training and match days is something that he was well aware of prior to coming in the door but that it’s still taken some getting used to regardless. 

“It’s only really when you’re in the cockpit with Donegal that you realise the actual challenges that are involved, the logistics of some of the distances. 

“These lads are on the road just as much as they are on the training field, possibly even more for some. And I’ve huge admiration for the effort that goes in, behind closed doors, and away from the public eye. It’s a massive commitment. Some of the counties up around the Pale certainly have it a lot easier than counties like Donegal and others on the western seaboard”.