Decorated Donegal star Karl Lacey will equal Christy Toye’s record of Championship appearances if he lines out against Galway on Saturday.
The Four Masters man came on as a 58th minute replacement for Martin O’Reilly in the round 3A qualifier win over Meath in Navan, making his 64th Championship appearance in the Tir Chonaill colours.
Lacey made his Championship debut as a sub in a win over Antrim in 2004.
Since then, he has won an All-Ireland and three Ulster SFC titles. Lacey is a four-time All-Star who was the GAA’s Footballer of the Year in 2012 when Donegal won the All-Ireland.
Lacey will equal Toye’s Championship record of 65 games if he features in Saturday’s qualifier against Galway.
In total, Lacey has made 147 Donegal appearances. Frank McGlynn (153) and Neil McGee (161) are those on the current panel who have more chalked up.
McGee is closing in on Colm McFadden’s 170-game record.
Paddy McGrath and Patrick McBrearty are also gaining on another record.
McGrath has played in each of Donegal’s last 42 Championship games since making his debut against Armagh in 2010.
Including his debut against Antrim in k2011, McBrearty has played in the last 40 SFC games.
Martin McElhinney, meanwhile, has played 41 Championship games and has featured in the last 40.
The St Michael’s man made his SFC debut in a qualifier win at Leitrim in 2007 but it was 2011 against Antrim before he saw Championship action again.
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