Ballymena United have solved their goalkeeping crisis with the capture of former Finn Harps and Derry City shot-stopper Ciaran Gallagher.
Gallagher was signed on Monday after answering an SOS from David Jeffrey and is poised to make his Sky Blues debut at Carrick Rangers.
United boss Jeffrey was forced to act swiftly after Sam Johnston picked up a hip injury in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Warrenpoint Town.
Jordan Williamson, who had been in impressive form for Ballymena at the start of the season, is also currently sidelined as he awaits knee surgery.
Gallagher, who spent a season at Derry in 2014, made over 250 appearances for Finn Harps in 10 years with the Ballybofey club.
The 29-year-old, who represented the Republic of Ireland at underage level, left the League of Ireland club in 2019 and has been focusing more on coaching in recent times.
Ballymena travel to face Stuart King's Carrick on a positive run of form having won five of their last seven games in the Danske Bank Premiership.
But Jeffrey won't need any reminding that Rangers have won both previous meetings this season, including a last-gasp 2-1 win with 10-men at the Loughview Leisure Arena on October 2.
"The reality is we were winning 1-0, they had a man sent off and they beat us with 10 men," he said.
"They also beat us at the Showgrounds, so we haven't laid a glove (against Carrick) and Stuart King has done a fantastic job there.
"Carrick will view this game as a chance to get points on the board and they'll also be looking to make it a hat-trick of wins over us. We've got to be ready for that."
