By Michael McMullan

THERE is a warmth in Gavin Mulreany’s smile that radiates the energy in Donegal right now.

They put their Ulster champions’ tag on the line in Clones on Saturday evening. Beyond that, they are very much in the Sam Maguire conversation.

For Mulreany, there is the realism that he is second choice goalkeeper to Shaun Patton but he is ready should the call to action come.

Currently on leave from the Irish Army, the St Naul’s man is firmly in football mode. Taking time out for last week’s Ulster final media day, while saying it was his first interview, he is a natural. Relaxed, yet confident. But not cocky.

As a goalkeeper, you have to be. He found himself in the firing line in the Ulster semi-final against Tyrone. He references how Blaine Hughes was thrust in to save a penalty against Antrim.

He is jealous of Shaun Patton. He’d loved to have been the man to save the Ulster winning penalty but admits that Patton is rightly in pole position.

Between Patton and goalkeeper coach James Gallagher, they drove each other on.

When Patton made the double save to thwart Shane McGuigan’s penalty, it was hours in the making. Manager Jim McGuinness lifted the lid on the goalkeeper’s union. Repetition. Patton, Mulreany and Gallagher, night after night.

When Mulreany was on the pitch at half time, it was nothing to do with Patton nursing a sore shoulder. It’s something Gallagher agreed on. A ten-minute window to reinforce the muscle memory. A handful of short kick-outs, left and right foot. Goalkeepers always need to be ready.

Beyond the training field, Mulreany speaks of a bigger picture of importance. A responsibility to the people of Donegal. Ulster finals, which are giants of games, are bigger than the team.

“I suppose we learnt that last year big time,” he said.  “We learnt very quickly how much football means to the people of Donegal.

“The closer it gets to the final, talking to people in the streets, you see how happy and how excited they are.”

There are a few questions thrown in. How are the preparations going? How are you going to get on?

“I suppose that nearly makes it more exciting for us then because we know how much it means to everyone,” Mulreany added.

“We see how many people are going to be there watching, so it makes a massive difference throughout the whole country.”

The players are the lucky ones. Mulreany smiles when he mentions being lucky to go through the gruelling training sessions.

“Some of them trainings you might not be a part of,” he jibes with a smile as wide as Gortin Glen, where he stands at the Ulster final photocall.

“We’re the lucky ones that get to go out and actually wear the jersey. It’s us that, I suppose, at the end of the day, it falls on, but it’s for everyone in the county.”

The people of Donegal, both at home and abroad. He also references fans from last year’s final who have since passed away and how this final could be the last one for others.

It reinforces the realism that nothing can be taken for granted and that it’s a countywide hope they will carry out the tunnel of the Gerry Arthurs’ Stand on Saturday.

Donegal were minor champions 2014 and 2016, beaten by Derry’s breakthrough team in the middle year in the semi-final

Of those three seasons, they’ve 14 players and 2016 coach Luke Barrett in the current senior setup

Went off the 24 lists in programmes, can’t find a 15th man pic.twitter.com/BarE5joItI

— Michael McMullan (@malmcmullan) May 3, 2025

Nine years ago, Mulreany was Donegal minor goalkeeper when they saw off Derry to win the counties second title in three seasons.

From Mulreaney’s minor team, coached by current senior coach Luke Barrett, it’s an impressive list of names.

Peadar Mogan. Jason McGee. Odhrán Mac Paidin Ó Fearraigh. Mark Curran. Eoghan McGettigan scored two vital points and Niall O’Donnell was a fire Derry were unable to dampen.

“Niall was brilliant that day,” Mulreany recalls. “It’s funny, we’ve all taken our different paths to get here, we’ve all had our breaks away from the squad.

“I suppose it’s no different to the ‘96 age group (2014 minor champions) has a strong representation in the team.”

Stephen McMenamin, Eoin Bán Gallagher, Caolán McGonagle and Jamie Brennan went on to play in the All-Ireland minor final.

In the middle year, 2015, Donegal won the minor league. From that team, Michael Langan, Dáire Ó Baoill and Brendan McCole have graduated to the senior ranks.

While there is an older guard, with the likes of Finnbarr Roarty thrown in, those minor teams form the spine of what will challenge Armagh this weekend.

“When you are a minor, at that time I wanted to be the next Donegal goalkeeper, I suppose Paul Durcan was your idol,” Mulreany said of the magical day in Clones.

“Donegal (seniors) got beat by Tyrone, and I remember we were eating food after it and we were all buzzing.

“The seniors came in after it, and after them losing, we were being told to keep quiet.

“I was thinking to myself ‘we won our game’, but it’s great that we’ve all got this far.

NO MINOR MATTER…Jason McGee and Niall O’Donnell celebrate Donegal’s 2016 Ulster minor final win over Derry

“Boys are going to play their part this weekend, it’s great to see boys coming in and coming back, but it’s not just about the ‘98 boys (2016 minors), it’s about everyone.”

After experiencing the winning feeling last summer, Donegal know the other side of the coin now. Elation.

He jokes at the photograph doing the rounds of his yellow cowboy had acquired from a fan in the midst of the celebrations on a packed pitch. Wall to wall Donegal fans. He still has the hat somewhere.

“That photo and that hat has come up a lot in the last 12 months,” he said with another smile.

The same result would be magic, but despite having come all the way to the final via the preliminary round, it’s déjà vu. Clones. Armagh. Another battle.

“I know for a fact, Armagh are sitting in their dressing room, they’re saying the exact same stuff we’re saying,” Mulreany sums up, reciting the five times they’ve met in the last two seasons. Saturday is a sixth. There is the Armagh factor of never have been beaten apart from penalties.

“It is going to be a matter of down to, just on the day, who wants it more and who does more,” he adds.

“They’re going to be gunning in for us, but just as it goes the other way, we’re going to be gunning in for them too, but we’re looking forward to it.”

Gerard O’Kane looks ahead to Saturday’s Ulster final