Season Preview 2016 - Galway United

Manager: Tommy Dunne

Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park

Players in: Connor Gleeson (Athlone Town), Evan Murphy (Salthill Devon), Armin Aganovic (Mjallby AIF, Sweden), Stephen Folan (Cork City), Kevin Devaney (Sligo Rovers), Eric Foley (Athlone Town), John Sullivan (Bray Wanderers), Vinny Faherty (Limerick), Andrew Connolly (Mervue Utd), Ruairi Keating (Sligo Rovers).

Players Out: Jake Keegan (FC Edmonton) Sam Oji (Unattached), Jason Molloy (Unattached), David O’Leary (Waterford Utd), Ger Hanley (Retired), Conor Barry (Athlone Town), Andy O’Connell (Cobh Ramblers), Tomi Saarelma (Released).

Extratime.ie Key Signing: Armin Aganovic

For the most of last season an area for concern for the Galway faithful was in the centre of defence, an area most Premier Division sides had identified as a weakness in Tommy Dunne’s, particularly from set pieces. Dunne spotted the Swedish central defender in action at the FIFPro tournament in Oslo and subsequently persuaded him to come to Ireland on a one-year contract at Eamonn Deacy Park. He will be hoping the former Mjallby AIF player can be a solution in that area of concern along with another new signing Stephen Folan and also the ever reliable Stephen Walsh to reduce the amount of goals leaked. A big imposing centre back, the 21-year-old certainly looks the part but only time will tell if the hustle and bustle of the League of Ireland will suit him. Aganovic certainly has potential and was one of the standout players in that FIFPro tournament, captaining the Swedish team to victory before being voted the MVP of the tournament.

Extratime.ie One to watch: Conor Melody

Melody was always touted as a future talent while plying his underage football with Mervue United. He represented Ireland at all the age groups while developing at Fahy’s Field, and attracted a lot of attention from clubs across the water, Everton in particular. Unfortunately for the youngster, he suffered a bad injury while playing in an underage tournament for Ireland and that injury set his progress back somewhat. He returned from that injury to play for Salthill Devon in the Airtricity under-19 League before joining Galway United under-19 squad. He featured regularly for the first team in the second half of last season, making nine league appearances and turning in a number of competent performances.

How they did last season:

League: 10^th – survival in the Premier Division was the aim.

FAI Cup: 2015 – reached third round before bowing out 4-1 to winners Dundalk.

League Cup: Reached the final after knocking out Dundalk and Bohemians, before losing out on penalties in the final, played in Eamonn Deacy Park, to St. Patrick’s Athletic

2015 was all about staying in the Premier Division for the Tribesmen, after promotion from the First Division. A bad start, losing six of their opening seven league games, was eventually turned around as they flirted with relegation before some good end of season results (a point away to Champions Dundalk a highlight) had confirmed their Premier Division status before the final game of the season.

The highlight of the season though was the club’s run to the EA Sports Cup final, the club’s first final appearance since 1997, but a penalty shootout defeat by St Patricks Athletic at Eamonn Deacy Park in front of over 3,500 supporters, ended in disappointment. There surely are better days ahead though for the club.

What to expect this season:

Galway will need to get off to a better start in their league campaign if they are to consolidate their position in the Premier Division, and will aim for a more comfortable mid-table finish and hope for another good run in either of the cup competitions (it is the 25^th anniversary since their one and only FAI Cup Win in 1991!). Avoiding a battle with the clubs who will be involved in the relegation struggle will be Tommy Dunne’s main objective for the coming season but they have been handed a tough start with trips to St Pats, Sligo Rovers and Derry City from their opening four games.

Dunne may not have the budget of the bigger clubs but he has been quietly putting to together a decent squad for the season ahead. He has retained most of last season’s squad, while also adding some experience along with some young talented players. Galway native Stephen Folan has returned to his hometown club along with fellow Galwegians Vinny Flaherty (from Limerick) and goalkeeper Connor Gleeson (from Ahlone Town), while midfielders John Sullivan and Eric Foley have joined from Bray and Athlone to add further to Dunne’s midfield options. Young Sligo Rovers duo Kevin Devaney and Ruairi Keating have also joined along with Salthill Devon youngster Evan Murphy.

The big question is though who is going to provide the goals as the popular American Jake Keegan signed for the Canada based NASL side FC Edmonton in the close season. Keegan hit 15 goals in last season’s campaign with 12 of those coming in the league. Galway will look to Enda Curran, who did score 12 goals himself in twenty five league appearances last season, and the returning Vinny Faherty who also scored twelve goals in twenty-eight league appearances for Limerick last season.

Title odds: 150/1

First game: St Patricks Athletic (Richmond Park), Friday 4^th March, 7.45pm.