manager Jim McGuinness's first season in charge. Then, quite suddenly, he became a linchpin of McGuinness's Donegal midfield, winning his first Ulster Senior Football Championship in 2011. He won his second Ulster SFC in 2012. Though he did not play in the final against Down, he featured in earlier rounds and contributed a point in the quarter-final victory over Derry. He was then part of the Donegal team that advanced through the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The best performance of his career with Donegal came against Cork at Croke Park in the All-Ireland semi-final; indeed, it is widely regarded as one of the all-time best in team history. He scored a point against Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final as Donegal claimed the Sam Maguire Cup. He won an All Star and attended the Football Tour of New York. He also started for Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. He won his third and final Ulster SFC in 2014. Under the management of McGuinness's successor, Rory Gallagher, he continued to feature for his county team. However, he was bedeviled by injuries. On Valentine's Day in 2017, he attended training at Convoy — it was upon the Convoy turf that he broke down for the final time and relinquished his status as an inter-county footballer. Gallagher later described Gallagher as "very disappointed… He wanted to give it a go… He got the back re-scanned and tried to build it up". He announced his retirement from inter-county football at the age of 33 on 20 February 2017. Business venture In conjunction with teammate Michael Murphy, Gallagher opened the sports store "Michael Murphy Sports and Leisure" in Letterkenny in August 2014. Personal life Less than a week after the 2014 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Gallagher attended the 2014 Ryder Cup in Perthshire, Scotland. Honours Donegal All-Ireland Senior Football Championship: 2012 Ulster Senior Football Championship: 2011, 2012, 2014 National Football League Division 1: 2007 (c.) National Football League Division 2: 2011 Glenswilly Donegal Senior Football Championship: 2011, 2013 Donegal Intermediate Football Championship: 2005 Individual All Star: 2012, 2014 Nominated in 2015 Donegal News Sports Personality winner: August 2012 References External links Official profile Neil Gallagher at gaainfo.com 1980s births Living people Donegal inter-county Gaelic footballers Glenswilly Gaelic footballers People educated at St Eunan's College Technicians Winners of one All-Ireland medal (Gaelic football)