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Donegal GAA thread

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Pattons kickouts are up there with the best in the country, also has become very good under the high ball and I would expect him to be first choice when he returns from injury but it terms of free kicks Mulreany is head and shoulders ahead, I'm very surprised this is even being argued

greatkick (Donegal) - Posts: 15 - 25/02/2026 15:36:57    2658594

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Replying To greatkick:  "Pattons kickouts are up there with the best in the country, also has become very good under the high ball and I would expect him to be first choice when he returns from injury but it terms of free kicks Mulreany is head and shoulders ahead, I'm very surprised this is even being argued"
Patton is still the number one because of his kickout accuracy but Mulreany's accuracy hitting 2 point frees is a huge plus. You can sometimes end up with maybe 5 kickable 2 point frees in a match so if you have an accurate long distance kicker it's a massive weapon. Murphy might not start every game this year so we need a two point free taker on the field.

All in all I agree Patton still gets the nod but it's a close call

High_and_wide (Donegal) - Posts: 104 - 25/02/2026 20:36:16    2658649

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On the goalkeeping sitaution, I suppose there is a lot to be said for rhythm and match practice too.
Mulreanny has been getting a steady run of games which has undoutedly boosted his confidence.
As good a keeper as Patton is, would be it somewhat of a risk if he is simply thrown back into action come Championship, after such a long layoff?

I suppose the ideal situation would be if Patton could get a competitive game or two under his belt before then. Maybe the Roscommon and Monaghan games, with Mulreanny playing the league final (if we get there)?

Then in the four weeks break before the Down match, let each man put his best foot forward in training and in-house games. We are very lucky to have two such competent goalkeepers.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 10248 - 26/02/2026 11:31:43    2658703

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With McGuinness (more than likely) resting Moore and O'Donnell, who do we see coming in to fill those spots V Galway?

Samforthehills26 (Donegal) - Posts: 4 - 26/02/2026 13:58:20    2658742

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Replying To Commodore:  "Shaun Patton is a better long-range kicker than Gavin Mulreany, but I would argue that Mulreany is a better physical shot stopper, he saved us from conceding a few goal chances in the league so far, he has physicality and his short range kicking isn't bad, he gets as many short range shots away as Patton, if not more.

We are blessed to have two quality keepers, management have tough decisions to make."
Patton is an excellent shot stopper, I would back him in many one-on-one situations and in penalties. We're lucky that both keepers are so good in that area.

The way I see this, a fully fit and in form Patton is a bit better than Mulreany in every area except for the 2 point frees. That is not a slight on Mulreany who is an excellent keeper in his own right, but Patton is better than him in my opinion.

Now what remains to be seen is how Patton plays when he comes back from injury. Will he still have the big boot and ability from kickouts? Will he still be as confident under the high ball (the part of his game he has developed the most in my opinion).

And another factor is - do you take Mulreany because of the chance for 2 point frees, and accept a slightly lower quality goalkeeper in the other areas versus Patton? They are a big addition to the team and I think in every game so far in the league he has hit at least one 2 pointer from the ground, and often has been at a key moment in the game - against Armagh it stopped their momentum and I remember similar against Kerry.

Overall I'm picking Patton so long as he is fully fit but Mulreany has proven himself this year to be a great option.

CCFabu (Donegal) - Posts: 295 - 26/02/2026 15:38:39    2658761

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Replying To Samforthehills26:  "With McGuinness (more than likely) resting Moore and O'Donnell, who do we see coming in to fill those spots V Galway?"
I was hoping Kevin Muldoon but he hasn't been in the 26 the last few games. I'd like to see O'Hare and McGeehin a run too.

peiledoir20 (Donegal) - Posts: 1455 - 26/02/2026 16:05:03    2658763

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I think if Patton is fit and back to his best then he starts, kickouts are so important, his range and accuracy is outstanding, Mulreany is an excellent keeper also and it's great to have such a choice.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 3716 - 26/02/2026 18:24:19    2658790

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Replying To CCFabu:  "Patton is an excellent shot stopper, I would back him in many one-on-one situations and in penalties. We're lucky that both keepers are so good in that area.

The way I see this, a fully fit and in form Patton is a bit better than Mulreany in every area except for the 2 point frees. That is not a slight on Mulreany who is an excellent keeper in his own right, but Patton is better than him in my opinion.

Now what remains to be seen is how Patton plays when he comes back from injury. Will he still have the big boot and ability from kickouts? Will he still be as confident under the high ball (the part of his game he has developed the most in my opinion).

And another factor is - do you take Mulreany because of the chance for 2 point frees, and accept a slightly lower quality goalkeeper in the other areas versus Patton? They are a big addition to the team and I think in every game so far in the league he has hit at least one 2 pointer from the ground, and often has been at a key moment in the game - against Armagh it stopped their momentum and I remember similar against Kerry.

Overall I'm picking Patton so long as he is fully fit but Mulreany has proven himself this year to be a great option."
Don't want to get too much into this debate. We do miss Pattons ability to catch a team out with the long kick out he has and mulreanny has struggled with a few medium range kicks outs.
With that said an accurate two point free taker is pretty much must have. The two pointers against armagh and particularly the one in the second were very tricky and he nailed them. We won the game by four points and these two frees are those 4 points.
I just don't quite understand that he didn't hit the one gallen hit short in the first half.
And sure Sean ose kept a second string Kerry team in the game against us by hitting two points frees. It's really crucial to have this kicker.

Ulsterchamps_32 (Donegal) - Posts: 976 - 26/02/2026 21:51:49    2658811

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "Don't want to get too much into this debate. We do miss Pattons ability to catch a team out with the long kick out he has and mulreanny has struggled with a few medium range kicks outs.
With that said an accurate two point free taker is pretty much must have. The two pointers against armagh and particularly the one in the second were very tricky and he nailed them. We won the game by four points and these two frees are those 4 points.
I just don't quite understand that he didn't hit the one gallen hit short in the first half.
And sure Sean ose kept a second string Kerry team in the game against us by hitting two points frees. It's really crucial to have this kicker."
Think you are spot on here. Would never have thought Patton's position under threat but to me the performance against Armagh cemented Mulreany as the front runner. The behind-him camera of the second two pointer was just incredible. He kicks a low "knuckle ball" trajectory that is very accurate. It's a hell of a weapon to have. To your point on Gallen, I think that's Jim experimenting who has the range from long range frees, just like Langan took one in a previous game. Mulreany also made two brilliant saves, the block and the penalty so he's no slouch in that department either. No doubting Patton's kickout superiority and that's where the game is at the minute. It's one hell of a headache for Jim I'm sure, and a good one.

Hilo (Donegal) - Posts: 2 - 27/02/2026 00:00:30    2658829

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Replying To Ulsterchamps_32:  "Don't want to get too much into this debate. We do miss Pattons ability to catch a team out with the long kick out he has and mulreanny has struggled with a few medium range kicks outs.
With that said an accurate two point free taker is pretty much must have. The two pointers against armagh and particularly the one in the second were very tricky and he nailed them. We won the game by four points and these two frees are those 4 points.
I just don't quite understand that he didn't hit the one gallen hit short in the first half.
And sure Sean ose kept a second string Kerry team in the game against us by hitting two points frees. It's really crucial to have this kicker."
Can Langan hit them?

eddieSize5Balls (Donegal) - Posts: 298 - 27/02/2026 05:59:11    2658834

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