Eoghán Bán Gallagher

Eoghán Bán Gallagher
Personal information
Irish name Eoghán Bán Ó Gallchóir[1]
Sport Gaelic football
Position Half-back
Born 1996 (age 28–29)
Club(s)
Years Club
201?–
 Na Cealla Beaga
Colleges(s)
Years College
 Ulster University at Jordanstown
Inter-county(ies)
Years County
2016–
 Donegal
Ulster titles 1

Eoghán Bán Gallagher (born 1996) is an Irish Gaelic footballer who plays for Na Cealla Beaga and the Donegal county team.

Early life

Bán Gallagher is the son of former Na Cealla Beaga and Donegal player John Bán Gallagher.[2][3][4] He was educated at St Catherine's Vocational School.[2] He attended Ulster University at Jordanstown.[5]

Club career

Bán Gallagher played as a 17-year-old child in his club's 2013 Donegal SFC final loss to Glenswilly.[2][6]

Inter-county career

Under-age

Bán Gallagher won the 2014 Ulster MFC title with Donegal,[7] and was awarded Man of the Match in the final against Armagh.[citation needed] He then played in the 2014 All-Ireland MFC final loss to Kerry.[8]

He played in the 2015 Ulster Under-21 Championship final loss to Tyrone,[9] and co-captained (alongside Tony McClenaghan) the Donegal team that won the 2017 Ulster Under-21 Championship.[3][4]

Senior

First featuring for his county at senior level under the management of Rory Gallagher, he made his senior debut in the 2016 Dr McKenna Cup match against Down.[10] Bán Gallagher went on to make a number of appearances during Donegal's Division One campaign in the 2016 National League: first as a substitute against Cork in the second round of fixtures,[11] then starts against Kerry[12] and Roscommon,[13] a substitute appearance against Dublin[14] and a substitute appearance in the league semi-final defeat to Dublin.[15] He made a substitute appearance against Tyrone in the final of the 2016 Ulster Championship.[16]

Bán Gallagher started the 2017 Ulster Senior Football Championship quarter-final victory against Antrim and the semi-final loss to Tyrone.[17][18] He also started the 2017 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier defeat of Meath at Páirc Tailteann.[19] He then started the qualifier loss to Galway at Markievicz Park.[20]

Under the management of Declan Bonner, Bán Gallagher continued to prosper. He won the 2018 Ulster Championship, scoring Donegal's opening goal in the final.[21] He had previously started the preliminary round against Cavan, the quarter-final against Derry and the semi-final against Down.[22][23][24] He appeared at left corner-back on The Sunday Game Team of the Year 2018.[25] He was also nominated for an All Star.[26]

Donegal qualified for the 2019 National Football League Division 2 final and Gallagher started the game as Donegal defeated Meath to win the title.[27]

Gallagher added another Ulster medal in June 2019, scoring a point as the Tír Chonaill men retained their title with an eight point win over Cavan in the final.[28] He had previously started against Fermanagh in the quarter-final and Tyrone in the semi-final.[29][30] On 18 July 2019, BBC Sport reported that Gallagher had been ruled out for the remainder of the season after sustaining a broken ankle during a training session on the previous evening.[31] He had just completed the championship victory over Meath the previous weekend.

Style of play

Bán Gallagher is regarded as a top ball carrier.[32] Though predominantly placed in defensive positions, he has been known to get forward and score goals for his team.[32][21] He is noted for his white footwear when on the field of play.[32]

Personal life

As of 2021, he was living in a house in Donegal Town with Hugh McFadden.[33] He is a supporter of the English association football team Liverpool F.C.[34]

Honours

Donegal
Na Cealla Beaga
Individual

References

  1. ^ "Two changes for clash with Roscommon". Donegal News. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 10 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "Killybegs' Eoghan Ban Gallagher follows in famous footsteps". Donegal News. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 18 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c McNulty, Chris (11 April 2017). "Listen: A proud night as Eoghan Ban follows in father's footsteps". Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  4. ^ a b c Craig, Frank (11 April 2017). "Eoghan Ban Gallagher emulates dad John's '87 Ulster feat". Donegal Now. Archived from the original on 4 December 2018. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
  5. ^ Ferry, Ryan (29 October 2020). "No excuses for Eoghan Bán". Donegal News. p. 60. Gallagher also enjoyed a spot of reading during the [COVID-19 pandemic-enforced] break, and is willing to shoulder more responsibility. He was one of the star players in the Donegal minor team that reached the All-Ireland Final in 2014. However, he is 24 now and appreciates that the younger generation can't rely on the older guard to provide all the leadership. 'I read a few books during the lockdown. It was not something I would normally do.'… Donegal and Tyrone know each other well, and Gallagher played with some of their players when at college in Ulster University, Jordanstown… 'Definitely, Conor McKenna was my age at minor, I'd phave played against him and Declan [Bonner] managed'.
  6. ^ a b "Donegal SFC final: Murphy delivers man-of-the-match display". Hogan Stand. 21 October 2013. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
  7. ^ "Donegal minors complete first part of historic double for county: First-half scoring blitz ensures a deserved victory over Armagh for Declan Bonner's side". The Irish Times. 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 24 July 2014.
  8. ^ Mooney, Francis (21 September 2014). "Kerry claim minor title after thrilling game in Croker". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  9. ^ Bannon, Orla (8 April 2015). "Tyrone footballers crowned Ulster Under-21 champions". RTÉ Sport. Archived from the original on 5 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Eoghan Bán living the dream with Donegal".
  11. ^ "Cork crash to 10-point defeat as impressive Donegal go top of Division 1". The42.ie. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  12. ^ Leen, Tony (7 March 2016). "Dogged Kerry win arm wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  13. ^ Campbell, Peter (13 March 2016). "Rossies signal greater intent after win over Donegal". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  14. ^ Keane, Paul (28 March 2016). "Donegal turn blind eye to James McCarthy incident". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
  15. ^ "FL1 semi-final: dazzling Dubs demolish disappointing Donegal". Hogan Stand. 10 April 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  16. ^ Mooney, Francis (17 July 2016). "Late scores help Tyrone to Ulster title". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  17. ^ Foley, Alan (21 May 2017). "Paddy McGrath among the goalscorers as Donegal blitz Antrim to advance in Ulster". The42.ie. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  18. ^ "The pendulum has swung decisively in Tyrone's favour in the battle of Ulster's giants following a runaway win at Clones". Irish Examiner. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
  19. ^ Keane, Paul (8 July 2017). "Round 3A Qualifier: Donegal edge thriller". Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  20. ^ Small, Daragh (22 July 2017). "Round 4A Qualifier: Impressive Galway advance". Retrieved 22 July 2017.
  21. ^ a b c d "Eoghan 'Ban' Gallagher savours Ulster triumph". Donegal News. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  22. ^ McNulty, Chris (13 May 2018). "Ulster SFC: Donegal too good for Cavan". Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  23. ^ Mooney, Francis (27 May 2018). "McBrearty excels to fire Donegal past Derry". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  24. ^ Mooney, Francis (10 June 2018). "14-man Donegal cruise past Down into Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  25. ^ a b McNulty, Chris (2 September 2018). "Eoghan Ban Gallagher named on Sunday Game 'Team of the Year'". Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  26. ^ a b "Three Donegal players nominated for All Stars". Donegal News. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  27. ^ a b O'Brien, Kevin (30 March 2019). "Murphy masterclass helps Donegal to Division 2 glory after comeback win over Meath". The42.ie. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  28. ^ Morrow, Michael (23 June 2019). "Ulster SFC: Donegal beat Cavan in decider to retain provincial title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  29. ^ Mooney, Francis (26 May 2019). "Donegal overcome Fermanagh in Ulster arm-wrestle". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
  30. ^ Mooney, Francis (8 June 2019). "Donegal power past Tyrone to make Ulster decider". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
  31. ^ "Eoghan Bán Gallagher: Donegal defender ruled out for season after breaking ankle". BBC Sport. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  32. ^ a b c McLaughlin, Gerry (7 June 2018). "Eoghan Ban Gallagher putting his white boots forward for Donegal". The Irish News. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
  33. ^ Craig, Frank (29 April 2021). "Eoghan Bán wants a tailored season". Gaelic Life. Retrieved 29 April 2021. 'Luckily, myself and Hugh McFadden were able to batter away together. We share a house in Donegal Town'. Also published as "Eoghan Bán Gallagher a big fan of tailored inter-county season" in the Donegal News of the same date, 29 April 2021: pp 60–61.
  34. ^ Craig, Frank (17 February 2022). "Kerry are a serious test — Eoghan 'Ban' Gallagher". Donegal News. p. 69. 'I'm a big Liverpool fan and I listen and read of[sic] a lot of what Jurgen[sic] Klopp has to say. He always talks about finding a rhythm and a pattern of play'.
  35. ^ McNulty, Chris (14 September 2018). "Three Ulster All-Stars on a night of celebration for Donegal". Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  36. ^ "CLG Dhún na nGall County Banquet & Awards Night". 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 December 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2018.