NEIL GALLAGHER IS LIKELY to start for the first time in the 2016 Allianz League this Sunday when Donegal face Kerry at Austin Stack Park in Tralee.
The Glenswilly man has come on as a substitute in all three of Donegal’s games, but was black carded just six seconds after his introduction in Sunday’s win over Mayo in Ballybofey.
Gallagher was sent on for Hugh McFadden in the 46th minute, but his first involvement saw him trip up Jason Doherty and Barry Cassidy, the match referee, showed him a black card.
“It was unfortunate for Neil, but he’ll be very much in the reckoning this weekend,” Rory Gallagher, the Donegal manager, told Donegal Sport Hub.
Neil Gallagher played 11 minutes against Down and six minutes against Cork, but his manager has hinted that the midfielder will start this weekend.
“Neil is training well and we’d be keen to get him in. We have a lot of big men in the middle third at the moment and we’ll need them all with Kerry being fairly big in that department.”
Kerry won their first League game on Sunday when they swept to a 0-22 to 0-6 win over Down having lost to Dublin and Roscommon previously.
Donegal haven’t won a League game in Kerry since 1988, but Gallagher’s team go to Tralee in flying form with three wins from three games.
Leo McLoone’s goal last Sunday helped them to a 1-14 to 1-12 win over Mayo in Ballybofey.
McLoone is another who is fighting for inclusion from the start this weekend.
Gallagher said: “Leo is pushing. He had a wee niggle in the week leading up to last week’s game so we decided not to start him. It was just a wee bit of tightness, but he’s in really good shape now.”
Christy Toye and Rory Kavanagh showed up well on Sunday and were influential in the move for McLoone’s goal in the 57th minute.
Kavanagh has slipped seamlessly back into the fold having made a retirement U-turn in January.
His manager said: “It’s just like we imagined with Rory. He is blessed by being very athletic anyway. He’s playing very well for us and has slotted in nicely. We always knew that he would do that.
“It’s good to have options, but you always want more. We had the likes of Christy Toye, Rory, Leo, Neil and Martin McElhinney on the field on Sunday. They’re all big men and we’ll need them all.”
Ciaran Thompson missed Sunday’s game because of a knee injury, but will be assessed again ahead of Tralee.
Anthony Thompson was named in the team for Mayo, but only played as a substitute having had what Gallagher called ‘a back issue’ but has ‘come through ok’.
Eamon McGee played despite being inhibited by a hamstring ailment, but also came through without further aggravation while Martin O’Reilly sustained bruising of a shoulder, but Gallagher does not expected the Sean MacCumhaills man to miss Sunday’s game.
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