Lincoln City midfielder Oisin Gallagher has signed for National League North side Peterborough Sports on loan until early January.
The Republic of Ireland U19 international came through The Imps academy and has made five first-team appearances for the club. He made his professional debut against Barnsley in the EFL Trophy last season, the competition that has brought four of his five senior appearances. He made his first start for the club in their recent Trophy defeat at Derby County and played a part in the 2-0 win against Wolves Under 21s in midweek.
Jez George, City’s director of football, said: “Oisin is an outstanding young player who has made real progress in the past six months and now needs a spell of playing regularly for the next stage of his development.
“This is a club we know well, with joint managers that we trust, and we have already seen how well Hayden Cann has performed and progressed. We look forward to Oisin doing the same and then re-assessing his plan for the rest of the season in January.”
The Imps had to obtain special dispensation from FIFA to sign Gallagher as a youngster, as he was contracted to Derry City, a club based in Northern Ireland that plays in the Republic of Ireland’s top flight. They were successful, and Gallagher earned himself a three-year professional deal in December 2021. Despite his minimal exposure to first-team football, he was awarded a new ‘long-term‘ contract in February.
As Jez George suggested, he joins another Imps prospect at Peterborough Sports, Hayden Cann. Under the watchful eye of former pros Michael Gash and Luke Steele, the Turbines’ have had a challenging start to the current season, collecting just eight points and currently sitting second from bottom.
Writer’s View
Don’t let the Turbines’ current position cloud your judgement – they’ve done terrifically well to ascend the pyramid as they have, and they have a superb set-up at the aptly named Lincoln Road ground.
Hayden Cann has thrived in that environment, and Lincoln clearly feel strongly enough to send another of their prospects down the A1 to Peterborough. Gallagher is some prospect as well – capped by his country up to Under 19 level, there’s a real feeling he could match the impact another of their Irish imports, Sean Roughan, has had.
However, to do that, he needs regular men’s football, and where better than in the highly competitive National League North? Many top players have cut their cloth in that division at one time or another, and it will certainly help bring Gallagher up to speed with the physical side of the game.
