2023 LOIW Season Preview: Galway United

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Galway United will field a women's team for the first time this season. Credit: Steve Alfred (ETPhotos)

Manager: Phil Trill

Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park

Players In: Abbiegayle Ronayne (Galway WFC), Eleanor Hernon (Galway WFC), Leah Brady, Kayla Brady, Jamie Erickson (Galway WFC), Kate Thompson (Galway WFC), Eve Dossen (Galway WFC), Therese Kinnevey (Galway WFC), Nicole McNamara (Galway WFC), Jenna Slattery (Galway WFC), Aoibheann Costello (Galway WFC), Roisin Jacob (Galway WFC), Gemma McGuinness (Sligo Rovers), Amy Madden (Treaty United), Siobhan Doolan, Isabella Beletic (Racing Louisville), Lynsey McKey (Galway WFC), Anna Fahey (Galway WFC), Rola Olusola (Galway WFC), Aoife Thompson (Galway WFC), Jodie Griffin (Galway WFC), Éabha O’Riordan (Galway WFC), Ailbhe Whyte (Galway WFC).

Players Out:  N/A

Extratime.com Key Player: Gemma McGuinness

McGuinness has made the move to Eamonn Deacy Park from the Showgrounds where she had a successful 2022 season.

The Northern Ireland international scored seven times in 25 appearances across the league and cup and missed just two games all season.

At 27, McGuinness is by far one of the most experienced players in Phil Trill’s squad and with her impressive haul of goals last season she will be integral to Galway’s forward play if she can fire on all cylinders once again this season.

Extratime.com One to Watch: Therese Kinnevey

Kinnevey was Galway United’s first signing ahead of the new Women’s Premier Division season and having made over 60 appearances for Galway WFC at such a young age and being one of their most consistent performers its no mystery as to why.



The defender will be well known to manager Phil Trill, Kinnevey having come through Galway WFC’s impressive Academy under the new Galway United manager.

She’s a determined and tenacious defensive player and will be an important cog in Trill’s side in a tough Women’s Premier Division.

With such a young squad in place for this season Kinnevey will have to step up to an increased leadership role in the squad and this could be another big season for the 19 year old.

What to expect this season:

This could be a challenging first season for Galway United in the Women’s Premier Division. The squad assembled is startlingly youthful and a mid-table finish would be an excellent outcome from the 2023 season for the Tribeswomen.

Although a young and inexperienced side, there is a lot of continuity which will stand to United. The vast majority of the squad have all played together previously as most signed from the now defunct Galway WFC.



Players like Therese Kinnevey, Jenna Slattery, Aoife Thomspon and Nicole McNamara all have a number of seasons of senior football under their belt so there are a few battle hardened players in Galway’s squad.

Manager Phil Trill has coached almost the entire squad at underage level, the coach having been the head of Galway WFC’s Academy and GWFC’s assistant manager last season. He will be very familiar with his squad and having been claimed plenty of silverware at underage level with many of these players he could be best placed to get the most out of them at senior level.

Leah Brady’s return to Galway and Gemma McGuinness coming in from Sligo look like shrewd pieces of business by Phil Trill and ensuring that the experienced striker Lynsey McKey returned this season could help Galway secure a position they can be proud of come the end of this season.

First Game:

Galway United -v- Wexford Youths, March 4th, Eamonn Deacy Park (kick-off 2pm)

About Paul Corcoran

Paul Corcoran is an experienced writer and journalist and has contributed to various publications including the Galway United match programme Maroon View. He spends much of his time covering the fortunes of Galway United's teams … View Full Profile