Four Donegal stars shine bright as they make GAA.ie Team of the Week

Four players from Donegal have been recognised in the latest GAA.ie Team of the Week for their standout performances against Derry which saw Jim McGuinness overcome Mickey Harte’s side on a 4-11 to 0-17 point victory in Celtic Park on Saturday. 

Shaun Patton, Brendan McCole, and Ryan McHugh have all earned their spots in the lineup, with Daire Ó Baoill also securing a place and receiving a nomination for Player of the Week due to his impressive two-goal contribution, tallying 2-1 overall. 

Shaun Patton, representing St Eunan’s, demonstrated exceptional skill until he was forced off due to injury at the 56th minute mark. His proficient kick-outs provided a solid foundation for Donegal, and he adeptly handled any aerial challenges that came his way while keeping a clean sheet in the process. 

He was replaced in the second half by Gavin Mulreaney who equally played as good between the goalmouth and was a part of Donegal’s fourth goal, again from a long kickout. 

Brendan McCole returned to the Donegal squad after a two-month absence and effectively contained Shane McGuigan throughout the game, limiting him to only two late points and contributing to several attacks up the field. 

Ryan McHugh, like McCole in the backline, delivered a stellar performance, particularly shining in the first half. Despite being marked closely by Conor McCluskey in the second half, McHugh remained heavily involved in the game and was one of Donegal’s best performers, adding his name to the scoresheet in the process. 

But it was Ó Baoill who was the standout performer on the day. The Gaoth Dobhair man was subbed off at half-time through injury in Donegal’s final league game against Meath last month, and with him missing the Division 2 league final against Armagh, he was certain to make a big impact on his return.