Football

Ronan Gallagher could be going back to St Gall's

Ronan Gallagher could be on his way back to former club St Gall's to solve a goalkeeping crisis
Ronan Gallagher could be on his way back to former club St Gall's to solve a goalkeeping crisis Ronan Gallagher could be on his way back to former club St Gall's to solve a goalkeeping crisis
By Brendan Crossan

FORMER Fermanagh goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher could make a dramatic return to St Gall’s after an eight-year absence.

Regular netminder Chris Kerr suffered a cruciate ligament injury a few weeks ago, with his absence blowing a massive hole in the Milltown men’s chances of winning back this year’s county championship title.

Player/manager Sean Kelly is hoping to persuade Gallagher back to the Falls Road club. Kelly and Gallagher were part of the All-Ireland winning side of 2010, managed by current Antrim manager Lenny Harbinson.

When Gallagher left the west Belfast club, Kerr assumed the goalkeeping reins and became first choice at county level for the next seven seasons.

Kerr was enjoying one of the best spells of his career when he suffered the injury just before half-time of their league defeat to Creggan Kickhams.

Kelly has a couple of youthful options but none that carries the experience Gallagher does. The Armagh-based 'keeper, who played for St Gall’s for the best part of the ‘Noughties’ alongside his brother Rory, was still keeping goal for Madden last season.

While his best years are behind him, Gallagher would certainly add organisation to the St Gall’s back-line.

CJ McGourty and Kieran McGourty would be more than capable of going into goal but the pair’s know-how would be missed outfield.

It is understood Gallagher may make an appearance between the posts in Sunday’s Division One game at home to Lamh Dhearg with the county championship only weeks away.

St Gall’s are still licking their wounds from last year’s devastating county championship semi-final defeat to arch rivals Erin’s Own, Cargin when Tomas McCann grabbed a last-gasp goal to knock them out.

Cargin went on to win an attritional final against neighbours Creggan Kickham’s before getting knocked out of the Ulster Club series by eventual champions Gweedore.

With the prospect of Gallagher answering St Gall’s SOS, the Milltown men will fancy their chances of going close in this season’s Championship while Cargin, Creggan Kickham’s, St John’s and Lamh Dhearg are the other fancied sides.