2020 Season Preview: Galway United

Manager: Alan Murphy 

Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park 

Players in: Enda Curran (Mervue United), Mícheál Schlingermann (Unattached), Joshua Wilson (Finn Harps), Timo Parthoens (HIFK Helsinki), Josh Smith (Finn Harps), Mikey Place (Finn Harps), Sam Warde (Sligo Rovers), Carlton Ubaezuonu (Longford Town), Timmy Molloy (Salthill Devon), Dean O’Halloran (Waterford), Jack O’Connor (Sligo Rovers), Shane Duggan (Waterford), Alberto Cabanyes (Unattached). 

Players out: Adam Rooney (Athlone Town), Ronan Asgari (Athlone Town), Mark Hannon (Ballinamallard United), Stephen Walsh (Galway Hibernians), Ivan Gamarra (Released), Joshua Keane Quinlivan (Athlone Town).

Extratime.ie Key Man: Shane Duggan

Alan Murphy has strengthened his squad by some distance coming into the 2020 season but possibly the most eye catching name in his squad is midfielder Shane Duggan.

Duggan has made the move west from Waterford and he brings with him 12 years of League of Ireland experience having made his debut for UCD in 2008.

The Limerick native has spent a number of season playing in the Premier Division but he has also lifted the First Division trophy on two occasions during his career, with Cork City in 2011 and with the Shannonsiders in 2016. 

He was voted First Division player of the year in 2016 and made it onto the First Division team of the season three times in his career. 

Extratime.ie One to Watch: Donal Higgins

Higgins is a product of Galway United’s underage teams playing for the club at Under 17 and Under 19 level. He played his first full season as part of the first team in 2019 and made 19 appearances— and completed his Leaving Certificate. 

His performances were impressive enough to earn the teenager a cap for the Republic of Ireland Under 19 side the 18 year old visibly improved over the course of the 2019 campaign. 

This could be a huge season for the winger particularly if he can break into the starting eleven and continue his progression as part of a much improved squad on 2019.

How they did last season:

League:

It was another anonymous bottom half finish in the First Division for Galway United in 2019. Although at least Alan Murphy had visibly less resources to work with compared to the season before so it was less of a shock that the club finished so low last year compared to 2018.

The mid-season signings of Killian Brouder, Stephen Christopher and Jack Lynch helped improve the side with the squad managing to go unbeaten in 6 of their last 7 games in all competitions, however, Alan Murphy’s side lost 15 of their 27 First Division games last season.

The opening game of the season saw the youthful side take a 2-0 lead against eventual champions Shelbourne only to lose by a goal in the end, which set the tone for a disappointing season in Galway.

A 7-1 win over Cobh Ramblers during which Marc Ludden scored 4 goals was the major highlight of United’s First Division campaign.

FAI Cup:

The Tribesmen surprisingly made it to the Quarter Final stage of the competition only to be knocked out by a last minute goal from Lee Grace when eventual FAI Cup winners Shamrock Rovers came to Galway in September.

United beat Collinstown in the Round One 2-1 and an impressive performance against Premier Division side Cork City in the following round, which the Tribesmen won 1-0, was one of the best moments of the side’s season.

EA Sports Cup:

Galway saw off Athlone Town after extra-time in March with a late winner coming from the experienced head of Vinny Faherty.

They got a second day out in the competition away to Waterford which the Tribesmen lost 2-1.

What to expect this season:

Murphy has strengthened his squad by a large margin this season with several Premier Division experienced players joining Galway for the 2020 season. The Mayo native has also held on to the core players of his 2019 squad as well as key mid-season signings Stephen Christopher, Killian Brouder and Jack Lynch.

It’s a big season for the Tribesmen as they enter their third season in the First Division. On paper there’s a title challenge in the squad assembled at Eamonn Deacy Park but it remains to be seen if they can in fact perform and put it up to the other major sides in the division. Certainly a playoff berth is the bare minimum United should earn this season anything less would be a disaster.

Title Odds: 4/1

First game: Athlone Town (Home)