Dunne contract extended as United build for future

THREE Galway players were celebrating FAI Cup success last weekend, while a fourth city native was the toast of the north-west after guiding Finn Harps back to the Premier Division for the first time in almost a decade.

Daryl Horgan from Knocknacarra and Tuam Road native Stephen O’Donnell (29) were part of the Dundalk side that completed a League and FAI Cup double in the Aviva Stadium on Sunday thanks to a 1-0 win over Cork City in the FAI Cup.

Horgan (23) – the older brother of Galway United duo Colm (21) and Kevin (18) – has been one of the stand-out performers not only for Dundalk, but in the SSE Airtricity League in 2015, and it was his pass that set-up Richie Towell for the extra-time winner on Sunday. He previously won the First Division with Cork City in 2011, and the League with Dundalk last year.

O’Donnell is captain of the Louth club, and while injury meant he was unable to start Sunday’s decider, he came on near the end of the first-half for the injured Sean Gannon and dominated the midfield sector.

It was the second domestic double of his career, having also won the League and FAI Cup with Bohemian FC in 2008. He also captained Dundalk to the League title last year; and he won the League and Setanta Cup with Shamrock Rovers in 2011.

They were not the first Galway players to enjoy success on Sunday, however, as Barna native Ruth Fahy (27) was a central figure in the Wexford Youths WFC side that completed its own League and Cup double with a penalty shoot-out win over Shelbourne Ladies in the curtain raiser to the men’s decider.

Fahy, a former captain of Galway WFC, transferred to the Wexford side during the summer and was tasting success at the second time of asking, having been part of the Salthill Devon side that lost the 2010 decider to Peamount United. After the game finished 2-2 after extra-time, the tie went to penalties and Fahy converted her side’s first spot-kick as the south east club claimed the cup 4-2 on penalties.

Meanwhile, going from the south east to the north west, Finn Harps secured their place in the 2016 Premier Division on Friday night with a 2-1 aggregate win over Limerick FC in the promotion/relegation play-off final under the guidance of manager Ollie Horgan, who hails from Dalysfort Road in Salthill.

Horgan has been teaching in St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny for almost 25 years, and he is a past manager of the Republic of Ireland Senior Schoolboys squad. He is a brother of Martin Horgan, who is the PRO and U-11 to U-18 boys’ officer with Maree/Oranmore FC.

Closer to home, Galway United manager Tommy Dunne has signed a new two-year contract with the club, saying that he had a project to finish with Galway United.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.