NO BOY’S EOGHAN STORY

Gallagher knows he has to man up for Donegal

EOGHAN BAN GALLAGHER no longer feels like a young pup with a long career stretching out in front of him.

He is only 24 and still has time on his side, but does not feel he can afford to shrug off setbacks just because there are more chances coming round the corner.

“Quite a few of us came through together from underage teams but now we are at an age where we have to compete with the big teams,” said the Killybegs defender, who is in his sixth year in a senior county squad.

“We are no longer a young team. We really have to push on and show what we’re made of in this Championship.”

Given they have to play Tyrone tomorrow in a straight knockout Ulster Championship match, it is no surprise that a three-in-a-row is not being talked about around Donegal.

No team except Armagh (2004-2006) has strung three successive Ulster titles together since the 1960s.

Gallagher, who has been an integral part of those 2018 and 2019 Ulster wins, said: “This is one of our most successful periods as a county and it is exciting to be a part of it.

“We have brought through some very good younger players even during that time like Oisin Gallen and it’s important to put those structures in place because teams like Dublin and Tyrone always have a new player or two every year. There are no excuses. It is up to us to perform.”

Gallagher, an All-star nominee in 2018, was flying again last year before breaking his ankle during the Super 8s and missed the games with

Mayo and Kerry.

The same thing happened to

Donegal the year before when they lost Patrick Mcbrearty (inset) to a season-ending injury during the Ulster final and on both occasions, it took the wind out of their sails.

Gallagher played in all five League games earlier this year and then extracted full value from lockdown, using the time to sort out a few niggles and get ready for the challenges ahead.

“I read a few books during lockdown which i s something I woul dn’t normally do, about Liverpool, the New Zealand rugby team and Leinster and they all talk about collective responsibility.

“It’s the same for us. We can’t look to Michael (Murphy), Neil Mcgee, Ryan Mchugh and

Paddy (Mcbrearty), it is up to everyone to drive it.

“It is something all the best teams do and share the load . If I get a man-marking job on Sunday or Declan

(Bonner) wants me in the half-back line or halfforward line

I will do it and I wi l l be ready for it.”