Donegal have been dealt a crushing blow ahead of their meeting with Kerry with news that Eoghan Ban Gallagher’s season is over.
The Killybegs man suffered a broken ankle in training and will play no further part in their All-Ireland challenge.
The flying wing-back will be a huge loss to manager Declan Bonner, especially with Sunday’s joust with Kerry in mind given that he would likely have picked up the in-form Stephen O’Brien, who starred in the Kingdom’s demolition of Mayo last Sunday.
Donegal started their All-Ireland quarter-final phase with a nine-point win over Meath in Ballybofey which leaves them just behind Kerry on scoring difference in Group 1 and the tie has been billed as a meeting of the two teams most likely to scupper Dublin’s five-in-a-row ambitions.
But Gallagher’s absence could well tip the scales in Kerry’s favour in what is just the third ever Championship meeting of the counties at Croke Park after the 2012 All-Ireland quarter-final, won by Donegal, before Kerry turned the tables in the final two years later.
Defender Paddy McGrath is also an injury concern for Bonner ahead of the game having missed the win over Meath.
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