Career
He plies his trade with Glenswilly and plays inter-county for Donegal, usually at midfield. Among other accolades, he has two All Stars to his name (2012 and 2014), one All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (2012), three Ulster Senior Football Championships (2011, 2012 and 2014) and one National Football League (2007). He captained Donegal to the National Football League title in 2007.
Youth Educated at Saint Eunan"s College in Letterkenny, he warmed the bench during the College"s 2000 McLarnon Cup victory.
Club Glenswilly defeated Naomh Mícheál by 1-8 to 0-9 in the final. The team had a successful Ulster campaign, advancing to the final of the 2013 Ulster Senior Club Football Championship, where they lost to Ballinderry.
Inter-county Gallagher was first called up to the senior team by Brian McEniff for winter training in 2003. He made his senior debut for Donegal in 2004.
That year his team made it to the Ulster final but were defeated by Armagh.
2005 was unsuccessful. Donegal reached the 2006 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final and he played in that match at Croke Park. They defeated Mayo in the final.
He was the caption that day.
Alongside Glenswilly teammate Ciaran Bonner, he was dropped by manager John Joe Doherty over a breach of discipline ahead of the 2009 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship qualifier game against Carlow. He became a linchpin of the Donegal midfield during the Jim McGuinness managerial era, winning his first Ulster title in 2011.
He was then part of the Donegal team that reached the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He scored a point against Mayo at Croke Park as Donegal claimed the Sam Maguire Cup.
In conjunction with teammate Michael Murphy, Gallagher opened the sports store "Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure" in Letterkenny in August 2014.
Personal Gallagher"s aloof demeanour has led to a certain amount of personal criticism from his teammates. According to Michael Murphy, Gallagher is the worst dressed player in the Donegal squad. He considers him to be "a wee bit old school".
Karl Lacey also agrees saying that Neil is the only man he has ever seen wearing skinny chinos with ASICS footwear.
Lacey also considers him the worst trainer in the squad. Less than a week after the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Gallagher attended the 2014 Ryder Cup in Perthshire, Scotland.
