Youthful Galway outfit prove breath of fresh air

Inside Track with John McIntyre

GALWAY FC, the team which proved difficult to get off the ground, has made light of its embryonic status to secure promotion to the Premier Division of the Airtricity League in their first season in existence – a notable achievement for all involved with this fledgling squad.

In terms of sporting achievement by a local team this year, Galway FC now probably set the standard, particularly as the odds would have been stacked against them being so competitive – never mind finishing third in the table – even in a division which contained a couple of sides of dubious quality.

The players would obviously have been still getting to know each other when their league campaign kicked off last March, but they were blessed that Tommy Dunne had been recruited as manager. He may have proven his sideline pedigree with Cork City in the past, but the Dublin native still didn’t travel west with a big reputation which ensured he wouldn’t be too impetuous in demanding too much too soon from his new squad.

Apart from assembling a youthful but talented group of players, with a strong local presence, Dunne wasn’t afraid to challenge his squad to become better even in the early days of their new alliance when Galway FC carelessly left a few points behind them. He was firm but supportive in his public observations and, gradually, the Tribesmen became to thrive.

They turned up in Eamonn Deacy Park, which housed its biggest crowd of the season, last Friday night in pole position to earn promotion after winning the first leg against UCD the previous Monday thanks to a late smash ‘n grab success in Belfield, courtesy of goals from Paddy Barrett and rising star Ryan Manning. This was the end game but the in-form home team rose to the challenge in terrific style.

On the back of a 10-match unbeaten run, Galway FC made their struggling Premier Division opponents look very average at times and once they broke the deadlock with a Gary Shanahan effort close to the interval, the writing was on the wall for the students. Now two goals behind on aggregate, UCD had to throw caution to the wind on the resumption and that left them exposed at the back.

Eventually, Galway FC took advantage when the hugely promising Manning finished the rebound of goalkeeper Conor O’Donnell’s save from Jake Keegan in the 72nd minute.

It was no surprise when UCD’s lines were breached for a third time nine minutes later when Alex Byrne was on target to complete a comprehensive 5-1 aggregate success. Galway FC had clinched promotion in style, and the hard way too as their initial two-legged First Division play-off against Shelbourne had also involved a difficult away trip to Dublin, but that didn’t stop them from having three goals to spare over the 180 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.