Jack Gallagher - fit and fighting for a place as U-20 season takes shape

Jack Gallagher made his first appearance of the season for Donegal U20’S last Saturday against Mayo in Ballybofey.

The Glenswilly clubman is one of 11 survivors from last year’s team beaten by Monaghan, in the Ulster semi-final and was sprung from the bench in the second half in the 2-10 to 1-4 win over Mayo.

He had missed the opening two games - against Derry and Roscommon - with a hip injury picked up playing for Letterkenny IT in their Sigerson Cup win over UCD.

The second year agricultural science student at LyIT suffered the injury at the end of January and it has been a slow and tortuous journey back for the young defender considered by most as an almost certain starter.

“The injury has cleared up well and it was good to get back playing and get some game time,” Gallagher told DonegalLive. “It was a slow and painful recovery made all the more painful by the fact the team had played well and had recorded two big wins over Derry and Roscommon in the first two games.

“With the championship only a few weeks away I need to get back to prove my fitness and stake a claim for a place in the team.

Donegal will face Armagh for the second year in row. That game is fixed for Sean MacCumhail Park, on April 1. Last year, Gary Duffy’s team defeated the boys from the Orchard County on a 1-17 to 0-8 scoreline.

“There is a lot of competition for places in the team and in the half-back line in particular,” Gallagher added. He is in his second season at U-20 having also played U16 and minor. He was a first choice corner-back last season but is hoping to move to the half-back-line this season.

“Oisin Crawford and Eric Carr have pleaded really well in the opening games,” Gallagher added. “To be in with a chance of making the championship team I needed to get back last weekend.

This weekend’s opponents Tyrone are no strangers to the young Glenswilly man and Donegal. They have crossed paths a number of times in recent seasons.

“I have played against them a few times and they are always good sides and tough opponents and they will be no different this Saturday,” he added. “We beat them at U-16 in the Buncrana Cup final and they beat us twice at minor level both in the league and the championship and we had a good win over them last year in the U-20 Championship in Omagh.”

Gallagher is one of two Glenswilly players on the Donegal U-20 squad. The two-goal hero from last Saturday’s win over Mayo, Kealan Devenney, is the other. And the club’s county involvement this weekend is nor confined to just the U20s.

Jack’s younger brother Donal, who is captain, as well as Eoghan Scott and Daithi Gildea are members of the Donegal minor panel that are due to face Cavan on Saturday in the Ulster U-17 League.