Team News: Patrick McBrearty set to start as Donegal names team for Tyrone clash

Donegal's Daire Ó Baoill in action against Aidan Clarke of Tyrone last monthplaceholder image
Donegal's Daire Ó Baoill in action against Aidan Clarke of Tyrone last month

The Donegal captain returns to the starting XV, as Eoghan Ban Gallagher drops to the bench as Jim McGuinness's side clashes with Tyrone for the second time this season in the championship

Donegal make one change to their starting XV from their Ulster final victory over Armagh two weeks ago with team captain Patrick McBrearty coming in for Eoghan Bán Gallagher as Donegal takes on Tyrone tomorrow night in MacCumhaill Park in the All-Ireland series.  

The Donegal captain and Kilcar star was a late withdrawal from the starting team in Clones during the Ulster decider, with Gallagher making his return to the panel after a long injury absence to play his first championship game of 2024.  

The Killybegs man will now drop to the bench, but it is unknown at the moment whether there will be any late changes to the starting team.  

Donegal overcame Tyrone last month in the Ulster semi-final with a two-point victory after extra-time in Celtic Park, with Brendan McCole saving the day for his side with a last-minute equaliser to send Donegal into extra-time against the Red Hand County.  

Shaun Patton is the only change to the starting XV that day in Celtic Park, with the St Eunan’s man returning from injury to replace Gavin Muleany for the Ulster final.  

This will be the third meeting between Donegal and Tyrone this season, with Jim McGuinness's side overcoming Brian Dooher’s team on both occasions.  

This will be the sixth championship meeting between Donegal and Tyrone in MacCumhaill Park in the last 11 years with Donegal prevailing on three occasions. However, the last time these two sides met in Ballybofey in the championship was last season in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final, which Tyrone won on a scoreline of 1-18 to 0-13 points.

There are seven changes to the Donegal starting team from the one that played Tyrone in the championship last June.

Donegal team: Shaun Patton; Mark Curran, Brendan McCole, Ciaran Moore; Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Peadar Mogan; Jason McGee, Michael Langan; Shane O’Donnell, Ciarán Thompson, Daire Ó Baoill; Patrick McBrearty, Oisin Gallen, Niall O’Donnell. 

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