'He'll be fine': Jim McGuinness on Shaun Patton as Ulster final countdown begins

Jim McGuinness expects to be able to have goalkeeper Shaun Patton back in contention for the Ulster final.

A leg injury sustained against Derry eight days earlier saw Patton left out of Sunday's Ulster SFC final win over Tyrone.

However, the 28-year-old St Eunan's man seems likely to return for the May 12 showdown with Armagh at St Tiernach's Park.

“Pretty much precautionary,” was how McGuinness described Patton's absence after the 0-18 to 0-16 extra time win over Tyrone.

“He was there or thereabouts. With the way he plays and the way he likes to strike the ball, we felt if we played him it could have put him in a position where he might miss much more. He'll be fine. He'll be okay.”

Gavin Mulreany deputised on Sunday with the St Naul's 'keeper coming in for his first Championship start.

McGuinness said: “You have your own plans and some of those plans are processes. It's a matter of all of the goalkeepers understanding what you want to do and achieve in certain situations.

“When you're being given the shout, it's a matter of holding the head and being steady. It's about giving confidence to the defence and, equally, the defence giving back that confidence.”

Hugh McFadden was unable to take a place in the match day 26 due to a sciatica issue.

“All going well”, he too, is expected to be fit for the Ulster final, McGuinness said.

The Donegal manager said: “A lot of times, those decisions are made by the player. Those boys have been around a few corners. They understand things.”