Gallen happy to fight for his spot

BY RYAN FERRY

OISÍN Gallen hopes Donegal will continue to employ a kicking game ahead of their All-Ireland group stage opener against Tyrone this Saturday.

Gallen was named as the All Star full-forward last season and had a great year in the green and gold.

However, you could have counted on one hand the number of kick-passes inside he received all year.

Most of his scores came from collecting a pass on the loop or isolating his marker in a one-on-one duel.

There wasn’t a huge amount of criticism coming Donegal’s way in 2024 but it was said that it’s hard to win the big games in Croke Park if you don’t kick the ball.

The 2025 version of Donegal is still primarily a running team and they have huge athleticism but there have been some signs that the team want to move the ball a lot quicker.

They kicked the ball inside against Monaghan, although not a huge amount came off it.

However, in the Ulster Final, three long balls were sent into Michael Murphy and it led to three scores.

Gallen posted one of those points and he would welcome more kick-passes into the forward line.

“You want to get the ball in as fast as you can but you have to be sensible about it as well.

“People like to see kicking and they think it’s great.

“And if you go down divisions, there are some teams that kick the ball a lot but maybe there’s a reason they are where they are, whereas the top teams are probably that bit smarter on the ball.

“But with the new rules now, it does allow for more kicking.

“You have three players up the field, and you’re that wee bit fresher when the transition happens, and you’re looking to get the ball as quickly as possible when it is on.

“There’s more space there and you have to try and use it.

“We’re kicking a bit more than before but when you’re inside you want even more.”

Of course, it would be bordering on insanity to have a specimen like Michael Murphy at full-forward and not even consider kicking some balls into him.

The Glenswilly ace was outstanding in the Ulster Final against Armagh and helped himself to the man-of-the-match award.

His sheer presence unsettles opposition teams and that allows more space for the other forwards.

Gallen took full advantage against Armagh as he posted four points.

The Sean MacCumhaills clubman is enjoying watching Murphy going about his business in a Donegal shirt once again.

“It’s just unreal to have him back.

“In big moments in big games, he’s just always there.

“It’s great for the likes of myself playing off him.

“You see how much of a team player he is, and he puts his body on the line every minute of every game.

“I try to take as much from that, maybe more from watching him rather than talking to him about it.

Gallen added: “He’s fully committed and when he’s in, he’s in. That’s probably why he stepped away in the first place because he didn’t feel he could give it all.

“But for the last five or six months with us, he’s just been driving it on again and it’s brilliant to have him back.”

Gallen has had his injury problems this year and was cramping in normal time in the Ulster Final.

However, he is gradually getting stronger and doesn’t want to give up his starting spot in the team.

The 24-year-old says that the competition for places is intense and that will only be heightened by what happened in the Ulster Final.

“Yeah definitely so. Niall O’Donnell was the matchwinner.

“Eoin McHugh was brilliant when he came on and really wanted to get on the ball.

“Conor O’Donnell got a point as well, and that’s what you want. You need that competition.

“You saw Armagh went on to win the All-Ireland last year, and the team changed every week.

“It was obviously decided by who was playing well in training.

“We need that as well and I think we have that squad there.

“Niall was probably annoyed that he didn’t get on in normal time but he ended up winning us the game.”

Donegal have already faced four Ulster teams in the Championship in Derry, Monaghan, Down, and Armagh.

And now two more – Tyrone and Cavan – lie in wait in Group 1 of the All-Ireland Series.

Perhaps supporters would have preferred to face more counties from down the country but Gallen says it’s not a big factor in Donegal’s dressing room.

“I think six of our first seven games will be against Ulster teams but what can you do?

“That just the way it is.

“The competitiveness of Ulster teams is that high, that they have all made it through into the top 16 for the Sam Maguire.

“We won’t complain about it, we just have to get ready for three tough matches.”