Irish name Niall O Gallchobhair Nickname Big Neil Education Saint Eunan's College Sport Gaelic football Occupation Technician All irelands 1 | Position Midfield Name Neil Gallagher All stars 2 Height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) Role Donegal footballer | |
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Neil gallagher donegal gaa interview
Neil Gallagher (born 1982/1983) is a Gaelic football player. He plies his trade with Glenswilly and played inter-county for Donegal, usually at midfield from 2004 until his retirement in 2017.
Contents
- Neil gallagher donegal gaa interview
- Neil gallagher lording the airwaves against monaghan
- Youth
- Club
- Inter county
- Business venture
- Personal life
- Honours
- References
Among other accolades, he has two All Stars to his name (2012 and 2014), one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2012), three Ulster Senior Football Championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) and one National Football League (2007). He captained Donegal to the National Football League title in 2007.
Neil gallagher lording the airwaves against monaghan
Youth
Educated at Saint Eunan's College in Letterkenny, he warmed the bench during the College's 2000 McLarnon Cup victory.
Club
Gallagher was part of the Glenswilly team that won the 2011 Donegal Senior Football Championship (his team's first County Championship at senior level). Glenswilly defeated Naomh Mícheál by 1-8 to 0-9 in the final. He won his second Donegal Senior Football Championship with Glenswilly in 2013, scoring a goal in the final against Killybegs. The team had a successful Ulster campaign, advancing to the final of the 2013 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, where they lost to Ballinderry.
Inter-county
Gallagher was first called up to the senior team by Brian McEniff for winter training in 2003. He made his senior debut for Donegal in 2004. That year his team made it to the Ulster final but were defeated by Armagh. 2005 was unsuccessful. Donegal reached the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final and he played in that match at Croke Park.
In 2007, he was part of the Donegal team that won the county's first National Football League title. They defeated Mayo in the final. He was the caption that day.
Alongside Glenswilly teammate Ciaran Bonner, he was dropped by manager John Joe Doherty over a breach of discipline ahead of the 2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier game against Carlow.
He became a linchpin of the Donegal midfield during the Jim McGuinness managerial era, winning his first Ulster title in 2011. He won his second in 2012. He was then part of the Donegal team that reached the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He scored a point against Mayo at Croke Park as Donegal claimed the Sam Maguire Cup.
He also started for Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.
Injuries prompted him to announce his retirement from inter-county football at the age of 33 on 20 February 2017.
Business venture
In conjunction with teammate Michael Murphy, Gallagher opened the sports store "Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure" in Letterkenny in August 2014.
Personal life
Gallagher's aloof demeanour has led to a certain amount of personal criticism from his teammates. According to Michael Murphy, Gallagher is the worst dressed player in the Donegal squad. He considers him to be "a wee bit old school". Karl Lacey also agrees saying that Neil is the only man he has ever seen wearing skinny chinos with ASICS footwear. Lacey also considers him the worst trainer in the squad.
Less than a week after the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Gallagher attended the 2014 Ryder Cup in Perthshire, Scotland.