Derry vs Donegal: Rory Gallagher - Gaelic football's ultimate 'outsider'

There aren't any posters of Rory Gallagher on the walls of the homes of GAA purists.

To them, he is everything the GAA shouldn't be. To them, it's all about your own club, your own county. The pull of home.

But Gallagher has played for two different counties - his native Fermanagh and Cavan. He has managed three too - Donegal, Fermanagh and Derry.

And he has played club football in Dublin and Antrim to boot.

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It all adds to the impression that Gallagher is the ultimate outsider. And it's beyond dispute that he always had an outsider's mentality, seeing the football world differently to others.

Fermanagh have never won an Ulster title, but Gallagher grew up dreaming of doing it, and convinced it was possible.

"I'd think about us winning the All-Ireland, even, when I was 13 or 14. I was very naïve, didn't think that wouldn't happen with Fermanagh."

When, inevitably, his team fell short, he didn't hold back - and there were a few managers who felt the heat of his tongue.

He had talent to burn - and still holds the Ulster Championship scoring record, scoring 3-9 in a win over Monaghan.

He won an All-Ireland club title with St Gall's in Belfast and a Leinster club with St Brigid's of Dublin.

Indeed, Gallagher enjoys the rare distinction of being the subject of an in camera Dublin County Board meeting.

When he was burning it up with Brigid's, Dublin were badly lacking up front - especially when it came to free taking. That meeting discussed the pros and cons of asking Gallagher to wear sky blue.

Gallagher is an outsider in Derry, but he is on the brink of delivering their most memorable season in 24 years.

They have already taken the scalps of All-Ireland champions