2011 Preview: Galway United
Credit:
Galway United
Year founded: 1937
Major honours: 1 FAI Cup (1991), 2 League Cups (1985- 86, 1995-96), 1 First Division title (1992-93)
Stadium: Terryland Park
Manager: Sean Connor
Captain: Paul Sinnott
Transfers in: Shaun Kelly (Dundalk), Karl Moore (UCD), Enda Curran (Mervue United), Steve Feeney (Quayside Rovers).
Transfers out: Stephen O’Donnell (Shamrock Rovers), Karl Sheppard (Shamrock Rovers), Barry Ryan (Limerick FC), Seamus Conneely (Sheffield United), Derek O’Brien (Cork City), Jamie McKenzie (Chalkanoros Idaliou), Rhys Meynell (Stalybridge Celtic), Jason Molloy (Mervue United), Tom King (Mervue United).
Play-off success over Bray Wanderers in November was joyously celebrated by Sean Connor after a stressful campaign that tested the Belfast native’s resolve. Another year in the Premier Division looked to have been secured until financial and licensing issues almost sent the Tribesmen plummeting into the abyss of the A Championship.
Connor has admitted the club were perilously close to folding in the past few weeks, and he must now form yet another squad from close to scratch after a raft of last year’s panel decided against a continued stay in the West. Connor is nothing if not resourceful, though, and will surely come up with the best squad possible on United’s shoestring budget.
Shaun Kelly and Steve Feeney are valuable additions to what is likely to be a very inexperienced side, and while a couple of pre-season wins in Northern Ireland offer some encouragement, many of the players involved have still as yet to be confirmed as part of the coming year’s squad.
Staying up and afloat will be a mammoth task but Galway are just happy to be in a position to put up a fight and with Connor in charge it is highly unlikely that they will go down without maximising every ounce of potential from their side. It may well be enough.
Extratime Prediction: 9th
Year founded: 1937
Major honours: 1 FAI Cup (1991), 2 League Cups (1985- 86, 1995-96), 1 First Division title (1992-93)
Stadium: Terryland Park
Manager: Sean Connor
Captain: Paul Sinnott
Transfers in: Shaun Kelly (Dundalk), Karl Moore (UCD), Enda Curran (Mervue United), Steve Feeney (Quayside Rovers).
Transfers out: Stephen O’Donnell (Shamrock Rovers), Karl Sheppard (Shamrock Rovers), Barry Ryan (Limerick FC), Seamus Conneely (Sheffield United), Derek O’Brien (Cork City), Jamie McKenzie (Chalkanoros Idaliou), Rhys Meynell (Stalybridge Celtic), Jason Molloy (Mervue United), Tom King (Mervue United).
Play-off success over Bray Wanderers in November was joyously celebrated by Sean Connor after a stressful campaign that tested the Belfast native’s resolve. Another year in the Premier Division looked to have been secured until financial and licensing issues almost sent the Tribesmen plummeting into the abyss of the A Championship.
Connor has admitted the club were perilously close to folding in the past few weeks, and he must now form yet another squad from close to scratch after a raft of last year’s panel decided against a continued stay in the West. Connor is nothing if not resourceful, though, and will surely come up with the best squad possible on United’s shoestring budget.
Shaun Kelly and Steve Feeney are valuable additions to what is likely to be a very inexperienced side, and while a couple of pre-season wins in Northern Ireland offer some encouragement, many of the players involved have still as yet to be confirmed as part of the coming year’s squad.
Staying up and afloat will be a mammoth task but Galway are just happy to be in a position to put up a fight and with Connor in charge it is highly unlikely that they will go down without maximising every ounce of potential from their side. It may well be enough.
Extratime Prediction: 9th
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile