Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
    • Football

      Watch: Horgan disappointed but maintains ‘it’s a…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      12 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      12 hours ago

      Athletics

      Watch: How Eamon Giles proved his doubters…

      21 hours ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Watch: Horgan disappointed but maintains ‘it’s a…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      12 hours ago

      Football

      Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep…

      23 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      12 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      13 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal hoping history stays on their side…

      16 hours ago

      GAA

      Former Donegal star to feature on first…

      22 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      6 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      3 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Saturday 15°CSunday 14°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

  • News
  • Sport
    • Football

      Watch: Horgan disappointed but maintains ‘it’s a…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      12 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      12 hours ago

      Athletics

      Watch: How Eamon Giles proved his doubters…

      21 hours ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Watch: Horgan disappointed but maintains ‘it’s a…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Harps left cursing their luck as Derry…

      10 hours ago

      Football

      Patching free-kick cancels out Mihajević opener at…

      12 hours ago

      Football

      Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep…

      23 hours ago

      GAA

      Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster…

      12 hours ago

      GAA

      Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories…

      13 hours ago

      GAA

      Donegal hoping history stays on their side…

      16 hours ago

      GAA

      Former Donegal star to feature on first…

      22 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      3 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      6 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      3 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
GAALead StoriesSport Lead

Donegal star Eoghan Ban Gallagher opens up on mental anguish of injury

written by Chris McNulty October 16, 2019
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

EOGHAN BAN Gallagher has opened up on the mental challenges of recovering from a broke ankle this summer.

Gallagher shattered his ankle in the days leading up to Donegal’s Super 8 game against Kerry at Croke Park in July.

An All-Star nominee in 2018, the Killybegs man had played a central role as Donegal retained their Ulster title this year.

However, Gallagher told how he felt as if his world fell apart when he suffered the injury.

“I went from being involved nearly every single day to being kind of isolated,” Gallagher recalled. 

“I was just sitting in the house. A lot of my friends were away and I was kind of lonely at home. I knew I’d have a long road to recovery and that my season was over. It was tough, mentally, rather than physically.

“To be honest, I didn’t deal with it well at all. I just wasn’t in a good place.”

Gallagher became visibly emotional as he spoke at Donegal GAA’s ‘Youth Matters’ conference at Letterkenny Institute of Technology at the weekend.

Donegal’s Eoghan Ban Gallagher on his way to goal during last year’s Ulster final. Photo Evan Logan

It was clear that Gallagher was still affected by the injury and he received a thunderous applause from the packed lecture theatre as he took a moment. 

Gallagher’s was a powerful discussion with MC Charlie Collins during a day-long conference at which several sportspeople, including boxer Jason Quigley, Donegal vice captain Hugh McFadden, hurler Danny Cullen and ladies football ace Niamh McLaughlin, spoke about the various challenges and set-backs they had gone through in their careers.

Gallagher suffered the injury in training at MacCumhaill Park and recalled how he underwent surgery at the end of that week.

He said: “The night it happened, it was just a freak accident at training. 

“I just heard the crack. I knew straight away. I could feel the pain.

“Everything happened so quickly. I got the operation on the Friday. I knew then my season was over.

“The only thing in my mind on the Friday was if I would get to Croke Park to see the game. The surgeon just kept saying: ‘We’ll see’. I wasn’t able to go.

“It was all taken away and I had no goals. There was no physio and I just had to sit there.

“My family and friends started to talk a lot more and I got a lot of support messages.”

Gallagher worked closely with Donegal team doctor, Kevin Moran, and physiotherapist Cathal Ellis as began his rehabilitation.

He said: “They came and started talking about my goals. That was the biggest thing for me. I had something to aim for again. There was an emptiness before. 

“Getting the goals and feeling part of the team again, gradually getting back into the swing of things was important.”

Donegal captain Michael Murphy visited Gallagher at home in Killybegs and took him back to training a couple of weeks later.

Gallagher said: “That was the most difficult step. You don’t want to make it about you. Whenever you’re at training and this is where you want to be and where you want to train, it’s been taken away from you…I wanted everything for Donegal and it was very hard to take. It’s still hard to take.”

He aims to make a return in 2020 as Donegal go in pursuit of a third Ulster title in a row.

He said: “I’m back on track. I feel like I’m making good progress and hopefully I’ll be back in the not-too-distant future.” 

Donegal star Eoghan Ban Gallagher opens up on mental anguish of injury was last modified: October 15th, 2019 by Chris McNulty
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

Tags:
2019 All-Ireland SFC2019 Ulster SFCCathal EllisDeclan BonnerdonegalEoghan Ban GallagherKevin MoranMichael Murphy
Chris McNulty

Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Harps left cursing their luck as Derry...

10 hours ago

Derry name starting side for Sunday’s Ulster...

12 hours ago

Last call for inclusion of Donegal stories...

13 hours ago

Donegal hoping history stays on their side...

16 hours ago

Former Donegal star to feature on first...

22 hours ago

Ollie Horgan says ‘we have to keep...

23 hours ago

Moya Brennan awarded honorary doctorate from DCU

23 hours ago

Drug courier who hid €35,000 of cocaine...

1 day ago

Liam Neeson stops for a yarn at...

2 days ago

Man who abused ‘vulnerable’ girl who treated...

2 days ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

MOST POPULAR

Donegal County Council
Advertisement

Sport Hub

  • Stay up to date with Donegal Sport Hub on Facebook

    5 months ago
  • Donegal links rank in Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

    6 months ago
  • Bundoran 10 Event set for March 2022

    6 months ago
See More

Donegal Woman

  • Moya Brennan ‘thrilled and humbled’ with honorary doctorate

    21 hours ago
  • Donegal mum shares the unseen side of MS

    1 day ago
  • Donegal scientist joins prestigious Royal Irish Academy

    1 day ago
See More

Columnists

Healthy Living - Sorcha McElchar

Sorchas Healthy Living: All you need to know about turmeric

1 day ago

Motoring - Brian McDaid

Carrie Harvey – a community cornerstone

3 days ago

Group Holidays - Travel Department

See the world with holiday discounts from Travel Department

5 days ago

At Home with Hegarty's - Hegarty's Home Interiors

At Home with Hegarty’s: Sit back and relax in the stylish Positano Corner

1 week ago

Career Advice - Rory White

Career Guidance with Rory White: Choosing your senior cycle subjects? Keep your options open!

2 months ago

See All Columnists
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2022 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

Posting....