the use of the excellent facilities at NUIG for training - I would like to thank everyone there for their help during the year. Our sponsors Papa Johns have been great as-sistance to us this year, and I would also like to thank Galway United Supporters Trust for their increased involvement.

Focusing on tonight, we need your posi-tive support for the all of the match. Any-time there has been a good atmosphere at Terryland, the players have respond-ed. For the first time in months, I have a strong squad to choose from. Ciaran Foley is unavailable, but Stephen Walsh, Karl Sheppard and Stephen O’Donnell, who were suspended for the last home match versus Bohemians, return to the squad. The younger players did very well at United Park - three made their first team debuts, and Rory Gartlan ended up on the scoresheet. I am looking forward to hav-ing a selection dilemma for a change this evening.

Looking forward to next season, I want to keep the current squad together - they have learned a lot throughout this season. I intend to build on this in my second year at the club. We need continuity at Gal-way United and I will be working hard in the off-season to ensure that we come back stronger in 2011. I will be looking for your continued support over the com-ing months.

In the meantime, thanks again for com-ing to Terryland, and get behind the team again tonight, as you always do.

Sean.

manager’SnoteS

Thank you all for coming to Terryland Park for tonight’s Premier Division Play-Off ver-sus Bray Wanderers. Welcome also to Pat Devlin and his squad. Bray Wanderers’ form has been very good in the last third of the season, and I know that they will be very tough opponents for us.

Although I am personally disappointed to fin-ish the season in this position in the league, I have been delighted with the positive at-titude of our players and of our supporters this year. At the start of the season our real-istic aim was to stay in the Premier Division. Although there have been difficulties on and off the pitch this season, the players have given 100% every week.Outside of the first team, the club has driven forward this season. We fulfilled all our fix-tures at A team level, and our very promising U20 team were unlucky not to qualify for the knock-out stages. Our newly formed U18 team will take on Salthill Devon in the FAI Cup shortly, and we have also entered the inaugural Connacht U18 League. We have

This is it! The play-off with Bray. If our boys perform to the best of their ability I know we can assure Premier Division football at Terryland for next season! 10 points out of 12 against the reigning champions Bohs shows the potential at GU. Three players selected for Ireland at U-23 level and the same players Stephen o Donnell, Seamus Conneely & Karl Sheppard fea-turing in selections at League of Ireland XI, U-21 & 23 and U-19 & U-21 level re-spectively show the quality of footballer playing for GU. We have had regular selections throughout the season on the weekly Airtricity Team of the week includ-ing 3 after the Bohs match: Jason Molloy, Seamus Conneely & Barry Ryan. When our first 11 are fit we can match anyone in this League and wasn’t it heartening to see players like Jonathan Keane and Ja-son Molloy perform so well against Bohs in our 3-2 victory? Both of these players have missed many matches through injury and many supporters wondered if either would fully realise their potential. On that performance it is a distinct possibility!

The enforced emergence in recent weeks of so many young players due to injury and suspension has provided us with a glimpse of the future and two of those in particular, Stephen Walsh and Gary Kelly (get the bloody shirt numbers right tonight lads please!), look set for many more ap-pearances for The Tribesmen.

As this is my last column… no sign of the yellow snack… come on guys… it’s only fair that I complete it with my All-Time Gal-way United XI (minus that legendary strik-er who hit the winner against Liverpool in the Fantasy Football match recently): Tommy Lally, Seamus Conneely, Mark Herrick, Derek Rogers, John Herrick, Jay O Shea, Chick Deacy (Capt), Gerry Mul-lan, Johnny Glynn, Paul McGee and… wait for it, Derek O Brien! Subs: Barry Ryan, Kieran McDaid, Ricky O Flaherty, Stephen Lally, Denis Bonner, Kevin Cas-sidy & Noel Mernagh).

Come on United, we can do it!

Mike Geraghty (mgwords.com)

As much as I have enjoyed writing this column for Maroon View I regret to inform you the loyal GU supporters that this is my last one! I no longer believe that the club’s ambition matches mine and feel the time is right to move on. I have let the directors know my feelings and they couldn’t provide me with any reason to believe that the situ-ation will improve next season. They refuse to assure me that there will be adequate funds available to secure the services of this season’s squad or a transfer kitty to en-hance the squad to challenge for European qualification in 2011. As I am not under contract I have circulated my availability to other like-minded people in the game and so far it’s been very promising. Jose rang from Madrid but even though I could touch base easier with Rafael Nadal in Spain I’m not sure I want to put the effort into learning Spanish. Alex was first to e-mail back but felt that my admiration for Roy Keane might disrupt things a bit at Old Trafford as I might accuse the players of taking everything for granted, not trying hard enough and slag off the fans as prawn cocktail followers.

This lady with a Geordie accent keeps leav-ing messages on my voice-mail begging me to ‘fight, fight, fight, fight for her love’... but seriously Cheryl the weather is bad enough in Galway I’m not sure if I want to end up in Geordieland! (Sorry Vinnie she doesn’t like Taytos… read Backroom Staff Profile for more). Some American guy keeps ringing my landline about ‘Pool and Red Sox but I’m not sure what that’s about. I am seri-ously considering a move to Elland Road to help out Simon Grayson improving Leeds’ consistency but after 3 home defeats in a row I’m not sure the programme would sell as many as Maroon View. So my commis-sion could suffer… OK, OK if Pat McDonagh agrees to provide a slice of pizza and Nick Leeson brings me a mug of tea at half-time I will consider staying on next season… but I want a yellow snack as well to seal the deal! I await a quick response or else the next time Leeds are on Sky Sports you could hear a familiar voice!

inSideterryland

edge of the box where it was picked up by Tony Folan. He set off on a mesmeris-ing run, leaving five would be tacklers in his wake and upon reaching the edge of the Athlone area, arched a majestic shot around the despairing dive of the keeper.

United finished the campaign with a re-cord of 10 wins, six draws and six defeats, to claim third place in the table. The au-tomatic promotion spot was taken by Wa-terford United, with Finn Harps in second and the last playoff spot was to go to Cobh Ramblers. That season the playoff format was, 9th in the premier (Drogheda United) v 4th in the first (Cobh), while 2nd (Finn Harps) and 3rd (Galway United) in the first division, faced each other over two legs. The winners of these would meet over two legs to decide who would take the last spot in the premier division for the inaugu-ral “Summer Season” which kicked off in April 2003.

Galway had home advantage in the first leg of their tie with Finn Harps on a very wet and windy Wednesday night in the west, however it was the Harps who dom-inated for long spells of the game. The young United side were a pale shadow of their normal selves as they seemed to suffer from stage fright in front of the 3,500 people who packed into Terryland for the game. Once they scored the first, a wonderful free kick from Murphy after he was taken down on the edge of the Harps penalty area in the 62nd minute, the con-fidence returned and they could have won by three or four. They were two up within seven minutes when Barry Moran latched on to a perfect long ball from centre half Nigel Keady, rounded the keeper to tap into an empty net.

Several chances were wasted by United from here to the finish but they would take a two goal advantage to Ballybofey the Saturday night. If conditions were bad in Galway for the previous encounter, it was no preparation for what was to greet the sides in the North West.

Galway United’s last involvement in the play-off series was at the end of the 2002/2003 campaign. To facilitate the transition to a summer league, the campaign kicked off on August 25th 2002 and came to a bitter end on February 8th 2003. The 2002/2003 league was a short sprint by to-day’s stan-dard, it consisted of 22 games, a straight two round, home and away format. Long time United fans will remember the cam-paign with mixed emotions, having been rel-egated from the premier division the previ-ous season amid financial turmoil, we were lucky to have a team in the league and to go so close to an immediate return to the top flight, gut wrenching stuff.

Tony Mannion and his squad treated us to arguably some of the best football ever played by a United side. Unfortunately, those were pre-Vinny and Youtube days and the action never made it to film. The goals scored that season will live long in the memory of those present and there were nu-merous contenders for goal of the season. Three that still stand out are a strike from a very young Ballinrobe native by the name of Alan Murphy against Cobh, a thunderbolt from Colin Fortune against Finn Harps and an effort from Tony Folan against Athlone Town that many describe as the best goal ever scored in Terryland.

Against Cobh there seemed little danger when Murphy picked up the ball forty yards from goal, yet the Galway striker skipped past a couple of defenders and unleashed an exocet that flew past a hapless Slattery in the Cobh goal. Finn Harps were given a football lesson by United in a three nil thumping that January, a couple of weeks before we were to meet in the playoff. Highlight of many highlights that night was a Colin Fortune volley from 25 yards that crashed in off the underside of the crossbar. Goal of the season belonged to Folan and that strike against Athlone. With the score at 2 -1 to United, Athlone poured forward in search of an equaliser and forced a corner at the car park end. The corner was swung in and cleared by a United defender to the

from delight to deSpairunited and the playoff

Moran beat defenders and Murphy to the ball before expertly tucking it inside the left hand post.

Moran celebrates scoring v Drogheda.

Two up at the break Galway sat a little deeper in the second half, but still had opportunities to extend their lead while Drogheda had just two clear cut chances both expertly saved by Forde.

Two nil up going to 02 Park (as it was then, now Hunky Dory Park) a large band of Galwegians headed east the following Saturday, in confident mood. Drogheda dominated the first half of the second leg without causing too much trouble for the Galway backline, but they were unlucky not to take the lead on the stroke of half time when a shot crashed off the Galway crossbar. United’s only chance of note fell to Folan, who after a great break saw his effort curl over the bar. Galway came more into the game after the interval and had two decent chances from Murphy and Moran before falling behind to a Drogs’ penalty in the 61st minute.

Centre half Fran Carter was adjudged to have tripped Fabio O’Brien in a packed penalty area, and Cork referee Alan Kelly pointed to the spot, for what most thought was a very soft penalty. Andy Myler, on the pitch just a couple of minutes, con-verted as the tension began to mount. Rogers made a great save from a 25 yard Murphy effort before Drogheda levelled the tie in the 70th minute through a header from Fabio.

Gales and driving rain were unleasehed for the ninety minutes and United never really looked capable of playing any of their spar-kling football on a badly cut up pitch. Any-one present that night certainly wouldn’t be in the “return to winter football” camp. The Galway defence performed heroics on the night, with keeper Robert Forde making a string of outstanding saves and left back Mike Quirke twice clearing off the line. Unit-ed held the home side at bay until the 65th minute when, after a scramble in the box, Forde could only parry a header by Declan Boyle and Donal O’Brien reacted first to nod the ball home.

The huge home crowd was buzzing and United came under severe pressure until the final whistle. Fran Carter and Nigel Ke-ady were resolute in the centre of defence and relief was the over-riding emotion of fans and players as United claimed their place in the play off final.

After two heroic displays the side had little time to recuperate as they faced Drogheda United the following Wednesday. The Drogs had a comfortable 4 – 2 aggregate win over Cobh, and once again United would be at home in the first leg. Just under 4,500 turned up to see if a young Galway side, that had improved beyond recognition in the space of six months, could secure a place in the top flight of Irish football. After the kick-off was delayed to facilitate the huge crowd, it was United who started on the attack, just three minutes in Alan Murphy brought a wonderful save from Gary Rogers in the Drogheda goal. A spin and cheeky chip from 40 yards out almost giving the home side the perfect start. No sign of the stage fright that appeared in the Harps’ game as both Derek O’Brien and Tony Folan torment-ed the Louth side down both flanks. Indeed, it was Folan who opened the scoring in the 17th minute with another spectacular strike.

Picking the ball up on the right wing 25yards out he rounded the full back and unleashed an unstoppable shot to the top corner from an impossible angle. Galway continued to dominate and after a couple of good saves from the Drogs’ keeper they doubled their advantage on the half hour. Folan played a sublime ball through for both Murphy and Barry Moran to chase.

even though Fabio O’Brien, who provided the assist, had clearly pushed the Galway defender in the back. Clear to everyone in the ground except those that mattered most. Galway dug deep and Folan forced one more great save from Rogers in the Drogheda goal but despite an avalanche of late forays into the Drogs’ penalty area there was to be no comeback for the men from the west.

It was a cruel, heartbreaking end to an excellent season by a young squad, who played delightful football and scored some memorable goals. Hopefully we will have some better luck and a positive result from this playoff.

Emmanuel Morley

Now with their tails up the Louth side went in search of the winner and laid siege to the Galway goal; it was United however who came closest to sealing the tie in the 89th minute when a cross from O’Brien was nodded on by Murphy and substitute Dave Goldby bundled the ball home. To the amazement of all in the ground the offside flag went up and we were heading for extra time.

Extra time was to prove even more dramatic with the officials taking centre stage with some baffling decisions. Twelve minutes in Drogheda were reduced to ten men when Mark Quinless was sent off for taking down O’Brien as he burst clear on the half way line. Moments later Galway hearts leapt for joy as captain Mark Herrick peeled off to the back post to power home a United free kick. Joy was short lived however as once again the goal was ruled out for offside. It was not only the Galway support that was astonished by that decision but worse was to follow. The decisive score arrived in the in the 105th minute when the officials al-lowed an O’Connor headed effort to stand

Galway United Football Club 8

feature

underageoppoSitionplayerS to watchJAKE KELLY

Jake Kelly attempting to round United’s Gary Curran.

One in a long list of young players lining out for the Seagulls this season, Kelly would appear to be one man that the United defence should keep an eye out for, as he has an abundance of pace and packs a mean strike. A product of the St. Joseph’s Boys nursery and still only in his 20th year, Kelly does have a good deal of experience under his belt already, as this will have been his third full season with the Wicklowmen’s first team. In 2008, he made a total of a dozen appearances for the club, during which time he also managed to open his Wanderers account. More recently, he was presented with the SWAI/Airtricity Player of the Month award for September. Kelly willl no doubt have gained the attention of the judging panel for his part in Bray’s surge in form and six match unbeaten league run during that period, which resulted the cementing of their 9th place finish. Galway fans will remember his contribution to the 4-0 drubbing United received in the Carlisle Grounds, as he opened and rounded-off the scoring, baggging a brace of goals. He also holds the distinction of being the first Wanderers player to reach double-figures in the scoring charts since Eamonn Zayed hit 12 in 2005. Kelly managed to surpass the current Libyan international’s five season-old tally on Friday night, as his 13th strike of the season helped Bray earn an extremely creditable draw against their title chasing opponents.

DAIRE DOYLE

Doyle in a fight for possesion on Friday night.

Doyle began his professional career with Coventry City under Gordon Strachan, but struggled to gain first team experience. In the early part of the 2000/01 season, Doyle went on trial to Kidderminster Harriers where he made an immediate impression on manager Jan Molby. Immediately following the trial, Molby made an atempt to sign him from the Sky Blues, but Gordon Strachan would not part with the young Dubliner. Jan finally got his man however and during his two year stint, Doyle appeared for Harriers 27 times and man-aged to find the back of the net once. Doyle, along with fan favourite, Ian Foster was released by the club at the end of the 2002/03 season. At the beginning of 2007, having spent time with different lower-league clubs, Daire returned to Ireland and was signed by Longford Town. He en-joyed two seasons at Flancare Park, where he made 56 league appearances and was on the losing side of their FAI Cup Final clash with Cork City. The club found themselves in the First Division the fol-lowing season, but Doyle remained at Flancare Park and captained the side for the 2008 campaign. Doyle joined Bray in January 2009 and has become one of their leading lights.

maroon army

what we are aBout

Since the start of the 2007 season, Galway United FC have had a team playing at the highest level possible in the country, the League of Ireland Premier Division. In order to sustain a team which can compete at this level we need a budget in excess of what we currently generate. With this as our goal, the Galway United Supporters Trust (GUST) have launched the “Maroon Army Members Draw”. To enable us to fulfil our mis-sion, we need your support.

Simply choose the package which suits you and complete the attached direct debit mandate to enter our monthly draws. You can also make a one-off yearly subscription payment, if you so wish.

The first payment was to be made during October 2010, with the first draw being made tonight Should you require any further information please feel free to contact any of our members named overleaf.

The Directors of Galway United FC have committed to work with GUST going forward, to the betterment of all facets of the club. GUST will be at the heart of Galway United FC and will provide regular, guaranteed income that will ensure that the city and county of Galway has a strong an sustainable football club going

forward.

1ST MONTHLY DRAWTAKES PLACE TONIGHT AT HALF-TIME

1st Prize - €5002nd Prize - €1003rd Prize - €100

€20 PER MONTH / €4.61 PER WEEK / €240 PER YEAR- ENTRY INTO 12 MONTHLY DRAWS

€30 PER MONTH / €6.92 PER WEEK / €360 PER YEAR- ENTRY INTO 12 MONTHLY DRAWS- GALWAY UNITED SEASON TICKET

€40 PER MONTH / €9.23 PER WEEK / €480 PER YEAR- DOUBLE-ENTRY INTO 12 MONTHLY DRAWS

- GALWAY UNITED SEASON TICKET

maroon armymemBerS draw

direct-deBit mandate form

maroon armymemBerS draw

feature

Matchday DrawThe prize for tonight’s matchday draw is a €100 voucher from the Galway United club shop at Terryland Park. Tickets cost €2 each, or three for €5. The prize at the UCD match was not claimed. If you were at the match, and have a blue ticket, 156-170, serial number AD88 TE4Y, please come to the GUST stand this evening. The winner of the matchday draw v Bohe-mians was Joe Curran, Doon East, Ross-cahill.

Discussion ForumDiscuss this evening’s match on the GUST forum, www.galwayunitedfc.net, which has 1,300 members. You can also keep up with happenings at the club by visiting the Galway United Facebook site. Over 4,000 people are now friends of Galway United on Facebook.

ThanksGUST would like to thank all our members and all United supporters for your support this season. Special thanks to all of you who have joined up to the “Maroon Army” membership scheme. GUST will be reg-istered as a Co-Operative Society in the coming months, and will have the first AGM of the new Co-Op before the start of the 2011 season.

Maroon ArmyForms for the GUST “Maroon Army” Mem-bership scheme are available from our stand at this evening’s match. The first members’ draw will be held at half-time at this evening’s match. The first prize is €500, with two prizes of €100. Membership forms are also available from Ronan Coleman at (087) 6972823, or Sean Dunleavy at (087) 9123184.

Regular MeetingsGUST will be holding our next meeting on Tuesday, November 9th, in Monroes Tav-ern, Dominick Street (7.30pm). All United supporters welcome to attend.

Table QuizGUST will be holding a table quiz in Crowes Bar, Bohermore, on Thursday, 25th Novem-ber (9.00pm). Entry fee for a table of four is €40. All support appreciated.

Aviva Stadium DrawTickets for the GUST Aviva Stadium draw are on sale at this evening’s match. This draw is held before every Republic of Ire-land home international game. Draw tickets cost €5. Supporters can also enter twelve draws for a discount rate of €50 (two free draws) - there is an entry form in your match programme. Our next draw will be for two match tickets to the friendly against Norway on Wednesday 17th November. The win-ner of the draw for the Euro 2012 qualifier v Russia was Gerard Flynn, Castlegar.

galway unitedSupporterS truSt noteS

Main Guard / Cross StGalway City

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went on to serve the two years with the youth side while finishing his term with the reserves. Regrettably, like hundreds of others, a simple “call in” by the club sealed his fate and he was released along with seven others. Two others went out on loan. It paints a dismal picture of the production line of UK football.

King goes on “Exit trials were offered but I chose not to bother with them. If you don’t get picked up you are pretty much on your own from there. It would be a case of con-tacting clubs yourself and trying to set up trials while at the same time remaining in England so I chose to come home”.

King returned to where he had started playing with his native Castlebar Celtic but swiftly moved to Sligo Rovers under 20 side. His first introduction to the League of Ireland came with Longford Town and, having been voted as fans’ player of the year, he was Terryland bound after Billy Clery contacted the talented right back. “Billy called me and I took the opportunity to do pre season training with Galway. It was ideal as I was heading to college there anyway.”

A compulsory study module with clubs in England, known as the national certificate in sport, as well as the FAS football course courtesy of the FAI has allowed him to take up education in conjunction with a football career; he is currently studying business in GMIT. However it is not without its dif-ficulties as juggling a full time course with part time football can be a headache for the 21 year old. “It is tough with college. We train in the morning and I have lec-tures on at the same time so it can be a bit much”. Having said this he is adamant that he would like to stay with United for the foreseeable future. “I am not sure what is going to happen at the club next year but yeah, I would like to be part of their plans.”

So, after two years in the domestic leagues, King, who is fast becoming a fans’ favourite, is hoping to don the ma-roon and white for some time to come…

Mark Quinn

With players like Padraig Amond , Jay O’Shea and Keith Fahey signalling a pro-gressive new chapter in the league’s history, many may for a time forget the other side of the football machine. Many of the current Airtricity League stars have already dipped their toes in the waters of professionalism abroad. Mark Quinn talks to Tom King about his own footballing merry-go-round.

It’s every young footballers dream to make it across the water attaining the stability the full time game has to offer but the reality is far from the bed time wonderment of wish-ful adolescence. Each season after serving apprenticeships with UK clubs only a lucky fraction of Irish exiles are offered a contract with their adopted clubs. Some grasp the opportunity of a life in the lower tiers, but for most the options are spent.

Tom King is testament to that very system which can spit you out just as fast as it picks you up. At the age of 17 King’s talent did not go unnoticed and a call up to the Irish under 18s squad in September 2006 against the Maltese was to kick start his journey across the pond. The game itself was a show case for “home based” players to step up to the plate and the Castlebar man did just that when Plymouth Argyle came knocking on the door. He explains “I was noticed by a scout from Limerick and they invited me for a two week trial. That went well and then they offered me the two year contract”. He

kingof the caStle

How would you compare the vari-ous managers you have played for throughout your career in the League of Ireland?They’re all different really; some were quiet, some not so quiet (like our current one), some I liked, some not so much.

Which players have impressed you both at Terryland and from opposing teams over the years?From opposing teams Keith Fahey and Paddy McCourt were serious players and of those I have played with Jay O’Shea, John Russell and Stevie O’Donnell are some of the best.

You remind me of David Batty at Leeds. Like you, he broke up the play and was always available for a pass. Unfortunately neither of you score many goals but when you do they tend to be a bit special. What’s the best goal you have scored?Cheers... I think! Ha-ha David Batty!!! I know it’s cat. I have to start shooting more, it’s been a while now. The best goal I scored was probably in the League Cup final for Limerick against Derry where I lobbed the keeper! Well it was certainly the most important anyway! (It’s definitely a compliment Ciaran! MG)

Why do you think that Galway United attract such small crowds?I haven’t a clue really, only 2 or 3 years ago when Jeff was manager we played Finn Harps and I think there was 2 to 3,000 at the game, so the support is out there.

What do you think the club could do to redress this?Again it’s a hard one! I know the club is working hard to address this within the community and the supporters’ club does great work trying to encourage people to get up to the games.

What is your greatest ambition in football?My main ambition in football is to win more medals, whatever they are I don’t care, I’m always telling Derek O’Brien that it’s great to win things!

Hi Ciaran, so what’s it like being a local on the Galway United team?It can be good and bad. When it’s going well people are slapping you on the back and the other side of it is when you’re doing bad people aren’t shy to tell you, but it’s nice that my family and friends can come to Ter-ryland to watch me play.

This is your second spell with The Tribesmen as you helped the team get promoted in the 2006 season. What’s it like second time round?It was nice to come back playing for Galway. I missed it when I came back from Austra-lia so I was delighted when Sean Connor asked me if I wanted to come back.

When did you first start playing football and who were your influences?I started playing in secondary school. I sup-pose my mother, between dropping and col-lecting me to and from training and match-es, was probably my main influence along with my dad.

interview withciaran foley

What do you think of the situation where Galway has three clubs in the League, one hanging on for survival in the Premier Division and two battling it out at the bottom of the First Division?It’s crazy really - the three clubs are strug-gling. I suppose if you had the best play-ers from all three it would be better than all three struggling in their respective divi-sions.

What do you do between the end of one season at the start of November and the start of pre-season training?It doesn’t be long coming back around re-ally. You relax and recharge the batteries and get ready to go again.

The best of luck in the play-off with Bray Ciaran, here’s hoping the Terryland Tigers send The Wanderers back to the seaside and on their travels to another play-off!

Mike Geraghty (mgwords.com)

Ps it’s an opportune time for one of those rare specials Ciaran!

Favourite biscuit: Chocolate PoloBest film seen: The DepartedFavourite TV Programme: 24Best book read: The Bourne TrilogyBiggest influence: ParentsBest moment in football: The odd time I score is always niceFavourite song: In a little while (U2)Favourite singer: Arcade FireMotto: Believe in the hype, believe in the manNot many people know this but I… was first ever player in league of Ireland his-tory to get a red card rescinded over video evidence. A proud moment for the Foley family

Mike Geraghty (mgwords.com)

Do you think that more players from the Airtricity League could make an impact at international level and which players do you think could do well cross chan-nel?I don’t know about at international level but yes, there are loads of players who could definitely make an impact across channel. I doubt there’s too many that could play in Premiership mind you.

As a senior player you are a role model to the young players coming through at Terryland what advice would you offer them?Enjoy it.

How frustrating is it Ciaran when team-mates are released due to economic fac-tors and every season GU has a brand new team?It’s pretty frustrating alright, we were going along nicely at the start of season with Shep and Bisto getting a few goals, so to lose Bis-to was disappointing and then to lose Bobby and Thomas after that was a real hammer blow. I don’t think we’d be facing into a play off if we had kept these players.

Position: MidfieldHonours: League Cup (2002) First Division Champions (2005)Ex-Clubs: Limerick FC, Sligo RoversJoined: 2006Debut: Finn Harps in League Cup, Bally-bofey

Date of Birth: 29/7/1981Height: 5 7”Weight: 12 ½ Occupation: Student

Favourite team: Man UnitedFavourite player: Cristiano RonaldoOther sports: Gaelic FootballFavourite sport stars: GoochFavourite food: Chicken curry

ciaran foleyfactfile

matically relegated, would go into a play-off series to determine who would get the final spot in this season’s premier division.

First up for Bray in the playoff series was an away trip to United Park to face Drogheda. Second-half goals by James Chambers and Brian King proved decisive as the Louth side secured their Ireland premier division status. Home spectators invaded the pitch at the final whistle as they celebrated their success, while Ed-die Gormley’s Bray were left with a two-leg play-off final against Sporting Fingal to decide their fate. The first leg in Morton stadium, which was played in incessant rain and swirling wind, saw Fingal take command of the tie with second-half goals by captain Stephen Paisley and top scorer Conan Byrne. Bray however, were unlucky to be in arrears go-ing into the second leg having efforts from Gareth Coughlan and Gary McCabe crash off the woodwork.

The incident packed second game, played at the Carlisle Grounds, was drawn 2-2. In a game dominated by the home side, it was through a mess in the Bray defence which saw Fingal take the lead, through ex-Seagull Eamon Zayed.

Bray got back into the game in the 83rd minute when striker John Flood raced clear of the Fingal defence before lob-bing the stranded keeper from outside the box. Bray clawed their way back into the game in unbelievable fashion in the 90th minute. Bray had a corner on the left which McCabe lifted into the near post, there to meet it was their goalkeeper Chris O’Connor who made a firm connec-tion with his head and the ball flew past Quigley to make it 3-2 on aggregate.

While all Galway United supporters know only too well the horrible feeling of relega-tion and the utter elation at promotion, spare a thought for the loyal band of Bray Wander-ers supporters who saw their side relegated twice last season, only to take their place in the premier division when the season kicked off on March 5th 2010.

Finishing the 2009 league campaign on 28 points, 4 adrift of Drogheda United at the foot of the table the Wanderers were resigned to first division football for this season. That was until Derry City FC were expelled from the League of Ireland after the club admitted making under-the-table payments to certain players and staff to get around league bud-get regulations.

The League has licensing regulations that limit wages to 65% of the club’s income. These extra payments exceeded that limit. As a result of Derry City’s expulsion Galway United were spared the agony of a playoff and Bray Wanderers, who were to be auto-

the many liveS ofa Seagull

to be heading for the dreaded drop again, as they lay in bottom position with only one win from 18 games. Early August saw the departure of man-ager Eddie Gormley and with it a dramatic upturn in Bray’s fortunes. In a five game run that brought three wins and two draws the Seagulls banged in twelve goals, con-ceding only four. Those results saw them leap-frog Drogheda United and earn their place in to-night’s playoff.

In the four meetings between the sides this season Galway United hold the up-per hand, with two victories, one draw and one defeat. Here’s hoping the long suf-fering Bray fans have to wait at least one more week to see which division they will take their place in next March.

However, O’Connor went from hero to villain in the space of two minutes, when he failed to deal properly with a long-ball and he was robbed by Gary O’Neill. O’Neill crossed low from the left and, despite Chris Deans’ best efforts, the ball made it to the far post for Robert Bayly to tap it in from six yards and seal Sporting’s promotion.

This result was to end Wanderers’ five-year stay in the Premier as they replaced Sport-ing Fingal in the First Division, but the FAI were to intervene once more. In February this year, Cork City FC went out of business after many court cases and failed takeover attempts over the past two years. Their place in the premier division was awarded to Bray Wanderers.

Having little time to prepare for premier divi-sion football, The Seagulls were most peo-ple’s favourites to fill the automatic relega-tion position this season. At the half-way point in the league campaign they seemed

cllr níall mcneliSproudly Supporting

galway united fc

mcnelis@votelabour.iewww.labour.ie/niallmcnelis

18 Galway United Football Club

SponSorS

gufc player SponSorS

Galway United Football Club 19

SponSorS

Walsh Fuel Supplies, 45 Ashe Rd, Shantalla, Galway.

Phone: (091) 524117

gufc player SponSorS

We have a delicate eco-system in Galway soccer with the emergence of some excel-lent infra-structure in places such as Bar-na, Oughterard, Headford, Clarenbridge/Kilcolgan and Corofin. Great strides have been made by Hibernians, Knocknacarra FC and Renmore in the city. However the chronic over-funding of Mervue and Salthill (clubs that deserve the utmost respect for the contribution they have made to the development of the game in recent years) threatens to undermine the long term development of the game in the West of Ireland. Instead of nurturing our eco-system and building the game on a broad base of strong clubs across the city and county we are feeding an ego-system which is encouraging a race to the bottom. Never before has there been such atten-tion on the race for last place in a League than in this year’s first division - what a folly.

Neither Mervue nor Salthill can sustain themselves in the League of Ireland with-out heavily cross-subsidising the effort from funds raised at the juvenile end of these clubs. We need fresh thinking and strong leadership to reverse this madness and create a long-term sustainable model for the development of the game in Gal-way. In my view the FAI should take the lead by supporting the creation of a long term plan for Galway Soccer with defined pathways for player development and a feeder system into one club competing in the National League. Call it Corrib Rov-ers, Tribes United or Galway United but there is only room for one. Let’s sit down and start a process to bring this about!

Nial O Reilly

Ghandi once said ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’.

I believe this country needs to move from a culture of entitlement to a culture of person-al responsibility. Let me start by taking re-sponsibility! I have been involved in soccer in Galway for most of my life. As a teenager I played at school in Presentation College, Headford and for my local club Moyne Villa. I met Joe Hanley, then Chairman of Galway United, in 1987 and a couple of years later got involved in the club as an administra-tor/director/supporter and was Chairman of Galway United for a number of years. In terms of its strategic organisation and direc-tion Galway soccer is a mess and because I have been involved with it for so long I am partly responsible.

If Galway United get relegated this year (and I hope we don’t) we can look forward to the prospect of playing six ‘Galway Derbies’ next season. To the uninformed observer this may seem like a handsome prospect but to those of us in the know it is nothing short of a joke! Galway soccer is not producing enough talented players for one League of Ireland side not to mind three.

reflectionS on theState we’re in

Derek O’Brien burst down the left flank in the 12th minute before supplying a cross which vexed the visitors. Flood and Bray skipper Daire Doyle clattered into one an-other and the ball spilled kindly for Gary Curran, who blasted Galway ahead with an assured finish.

Then Sheppard came within inches of ex-tending Galway’s advantage when mak-ing a headed connection with a smart O’Donnell set piece. Bray had chances too and John Mulroy fired over while Jake Kelly hit the crossbar during a spell of pressure from the visitors.

Eddie Gormley’s youngsters were back on terms 45 seconds after the restart when O’Neill squeezed a shot past Barry Ryan following a Mulroy assist. A Doyle free kick on 79 put Bray ahead, but Flood res-cued a point for Galway when steering a powerful header to the roof of the Bray net following a Curran cross.

Galway United: Barry Ryan; Conneely, McKenzie, Meynell, Creaney; Curran (King, 83), Foley, O’Donnell, O’Brien (Bobby Ryan, 63); Flood, Sheppard.

Bray Wanderers: Kane; Doyle, Tresson (Byrne, 20), Prendergast, Massey;Mulroy, Brennan (O’Connor, 72), Kavanagh, Zam-bra, Kelly; O’Neill (Doyle, 68).

Galway United 2-2 Bray WanderersMonday, 5 July 2010

Anto Flood’s 83rd minute header ensured Galway United grabbed a share of the spoils against Bray Wanderers at Terryland Park. Eddie Gormley’s side trailed at the break to a 12th minute Gary Curran goal, but Bray then responded. Shane O’Neill equalized seconds after the restart and a Robbie Doyle free kick on 79 edged them ahead, but Flood hit back for Galway seven minutes from time when connecting with a cute Curran cross.

Though Bray started with a five man mid-field, Galway were positive in the early stages as Stephen O’Donnell and Ciaran Foley battled diligently. Three minutes in an O’Donnell free-kick found Rhys Meynell who headed the ball into Flood’s path, but Bray goalkeeper Brian Kane saved.

Karl Sheppard’s pace was bothering Bray and Kane had to be alert in the seventh minute when palming away a threatening cross from the former Everton youngster. Galway, though, continued to probe and

our laSt encounterin terryland

It’s easy for fans of the sides who qualify for European football to be so eager to retain the summer schedule as it benefits them. However, too often, the structure of our league has favoured only a small number of clubs in the long run. Trends seem to indicate that crowds at games are highest at the beginning and conclusions of the season. Whether this is due to the novelty of the league starting back again, and everyone returning again at the cli-max when their clubs have something to play for or the fact that it’s because these games fall into the winter football sched-ule remains to be seen.

A 16 team division is very appealing. First of all, it would more than likely put an end to midweek games which are awkward for fans to get to, and the monotonous sched-ule of the 10 team league. Instead of hav-ing to face teams at least 4 times every year, clubs would play each other twice. It would give the supporters a bit more va-riety. If you consider us here in Galway, it would allow for possible trips to Ath-lone, Longford or Limerick again. It would also give the league a more geographical spread, and not have a scenario like this season, with ourselves and Sligo having to travel east for 16 out of our 18 fixtures. The argument of summer v winter football is a very interesting debate. While you can’t beat the atmosphere of a night game in winter, the weather can have a detrimen-tal affect on a league programme. Take last year for example: Had the Airtricity League been in motion during the winter, the list of postponements would have been almost endless and would have caused a severe backlog of fixtures, such was the winter we had. The league’s co-efficient has dramatically improved since the in-troduction of summer football, with Irish clubs like Derry and Shelbourne earning glamour ties with PSG and Deportivo re-spectively. However, one could credit this hike in the rankings to the introduction of full-time football. Summer football didn’t aid Bohemians this year against TNS, who were out of season. It’s still difficult to gauge whether or not the attendances would go up or down if there were to be a change in season.

Season’s end is almost upon us again (well, we’d like to think so anyway!) and once again the topic of altering the structure of the league is on many people’s lips.

It seems to be the annual discussion amongst the LOI fraternity. With the idea of an All-Ireland firmly on the back burner, attention has been shifted along to propos-als on how the structure of the LOI can be altered and improved.

An article that went to print in the media in the last few weeks would suggest that clubs are again in favour of change. Of the 22 clubs in the Premier & First Divisions, 21 voted on a number of issues. 12 clubs voted in favour of a return to winter football from August 2012, and the introduction of a 16 team Premier Division.

It has caused a lot of debate and discus-sion, with fans all over the country identify-ing the merits and disadvantages of such a structure. The general feeling was that most fans would be in favour of a 16 team Premier Division, but a large percentage are keen to retain summer football.

more changeSon the horizon?

The same thing happened last year when Galway finished ten points clear of Drogheda, but avoided a play-off thanks to Derry being expelled. Would it not make more sense to offer the 8th place spot to the team who comes 4th in the First Di-vision, and have more teams playing for something down there as the end of the season approaches.

But no matter how hard any committee tries, it seems likely that they will never come up with a solution that will suit ev-erybody. What is certain though, is that this time the changes have to be right. We can’t have the same discussion 2-3 years down the line. All these proposals are well and good, but something concrete must come of them sooner rather than later if the League of Ireland wants to start to em-bed itself more within these shores.

Mark Monaghan

I think most fans are already fed up with the 10 team Premier Division. It didn’t work a few years ago, and was scrapped ahead of the 2005 season, surely enough indication to the powers that be that this structure did not work. Playing the same team 4 times in a season is too repetitive, and it’s hard to attract supporters who are not used to com-ing to games to watch the same team again.

Take for example, this season; Sligo Rov-ers have faced St Patrick’s Athletic seven times, which is far too much. As well as the fans, this surely can’t be very enticing for the players having to face the same team as often as that. They lose their appetite and hunger, and there isn’t a sense of challenge. Another feature of this 10 team league has been play-offs within the division to decide who meets the First Division side in the pro-motion/relegation play-off. It’s baffling that Galway United have to play Bray here to-night, after finishing eleven points clear of their rivals over the course of the 36 games.

er give up” attitude. We were very unlucky near the end of the season as we were on track to avoid the play off before that, but our main aim before the season was to stay up and if we beat Bray it’s been a successful season.

Joe-Show-310 (Joseph Flaherty) It was a season with plenty of ups and downs, a few poor results but some crack-ing goals and great wins. Beating Bohs, the champions, twice on TV was brilliant. The 2-3 away win was just surreal, best 21st birthday present I could have asked for. Best of luck to all players and staff against Bray.

DamoGUFC

I’ve found this season to be one of the most exciting on the field since I’ve been involved with the club. Sean & Gareth have worked miracles with the hand they have been dealt and with a little more luck on the injury & sus-pension front we could have finished comfortably in the top half of the table. Off the field has been a disaster and a full review of the running of the club has to be done and the voices of people with a genuine interest in the future of the club have to be listened to.

Gufct

It’s been a strange season, we’ve had some great wins, some poor defeats and some dire ref decisions... but the work by GUST off the pitch shows that there are plenty of fans interested in shaping the direction for the future and supporting the players and management in the future. Liam Hanrahan

The season for me has had a lot of ups and downs. Great start, poor crowds and lots of surprises along the way, hard to be-lieve we beat Bohs three times this sea-son and still end up in a playoff, looking forward to next season after tonight’s win against Bray.

Dominick Walsh

Members of the GUST Forum, GalwayUnitedFC.net, offer their opinions to Kieran Fox on the season past.

It definitely has been a roller coaster sea-son for all United fans, the joy of seeing the brilliant squad that Sean put together on a shoestring, the cracking goals from Shep and Bisto, the performances in Dalymount and then back to reality when the cutbacks came. Really proud of all the youngsters that came on board, and let’s hope it all works out for them and us tonight. Looking forward to next season already.

Mike Daly Sean Connor has worked miracles this year considering the budget he’s had and if we can manage to stay in the division tonight, it’s got to go down as a successful season. Personal highlights for me are Stephen Walshe’s goal in the 2-0 win against Bohs and the chants of “we’ve got a left back in goal” during Rhys’ clean sheet in Bray! The work being done by GUST and Sean Con-nor gives me great hope for next season.

PaulCCFC Being a Galway United fan I’m used to up and down seasons, but this season was more up and down than most. We got over a quarter of our points for the season against a team that was top of the league going into the second last game and yet we struggled against a lot of the weaker teams. Hard to compare the feeling you get after beating Bohs 3-2 in Dalymount and Terry-land with injury time goals and the feeling ya get after being hammered 4-0 by Bray in the Carlisle. Guess that’s just the life of a Galway United fan.

Kenny Keady. I think it’s been a good season. Sean Con-nor has built a starting 11 that can defeat any team in the league on their day. How-ever, the lack of discipline has cost us, with stupid yellow cards being received all the time. Lack of depth also, but that’s a given with a shoestring budget. Sean has injected a serious fighting spirit into the team, a “nev-

the viewfrom the Stand

have all been terrific and now hopefully to end on high on November the 2nd verses Bray in Terryland.

Corbyeire

Very bright start. Looked like we would be safe in mid-table until the last series of games. Financial problems and a low playing budget haven’t helped us. If we had managed to hold on to Anto Flood and Bobby Ryan we would be safe from relegation. Sean Connor has done very well with the resources he’s had and he’s managed to find some very good young, local players. Most negative thing about the whole season has been the falling crowds at Terryland. Hopefully we can see off Bray and plan for another season in the Premier Division.

Journeyman Coming into the start of this season, things looked uncertain for United; however, an exciting/nerving season was before us with Sean Connor taking over a ‘palimp-sestic’ Galway United squad. Connor has done well considering he had little funds available and a ‘clean slate’ United squad to take charge of, as in retrospect it was a brave and challenging task. Performanc-es this season have varied hugely, but with a largely, inexperienced team, in terms of playing together previously, injury stricken spells and deteriorating support, we have done quite well. We have built the founda-tions of a youthful, promising club and a win tonight will ignite a new era for Galway United, to firmly establish themselves as a Premier Division club and build for the better and for the future.

Aaron O’Connell It’s been a strange old season, we looked like a squad that could have finished mid table comfortably yet we find ourselves in the play offs – still, if we stay in the premier it’ll have been a good season all things considered. Some of the positives to look at are the emergence of some new local talent such as Stephen Walsh, hopefully we can hang on to them for next season.

Mairtin O’Mochain

Thank you to all the contributors.

I think at the start of the season most peo-ple knew we had a very small squad and that at some point in the season this would come into play. Still, Sean Connor had a good group of players together and if they gelled, mid-table could be a possibility. As ever, our home form has been pretty poor and again, we have more points away from home. We started off okay - but it wasn’t the injuries that took the toll. It was the suspen-sions which began to impact the team. We seemed to get away with this in the first third but then player’s heads were turned with any amount of speculation. After play-ing so well it was hard to see Bisto go af-ter all the quality goals he score for us. We did well to maintain Sheppard and O’Donnell in GUFC shirts and what a smart signing it was to bring back Philip Reilly to the squad. Heary and Bobby were no great loss as both had been playing hot and cold. But the squad numbers were down and we had lost some experience. The first of the youngsters came into the fray and United did wobble a bit but seemed to be ahead of the play off places for the most part. The result at Bohs and UCD bumped us up to 6th for a while. BUT then the small squad kicked in with inju-ries to Foley, Connelly and McKenzie oc-curring and others losing out to suspen-sions - we went on a dismal run and the losses to Bray and UCD away were crucial! Considering the young players that came in they have done themselves proud in a dif-ficult situation. The win at home to Bohs was massive and hopefully it will give some confidence.

The crowds this season have been poor and adds to the already dangerous situ-ation GUFC is in off the field. Staying up with no playoff versus a 1st division team and holding onto a few players is a great end to the year. Undoubtedly a few will go that have had any amount of specula-tion about them. But we have blooded a group of good local lads to build around.

Hopefully the Maroon Army Scheme will manage to keep the club away from the red and be enough to keep Sean Connor around for next season also. All in all a very typical GUFC season of many highs and lows - the Bohs games

O’Donnell’s presence at centre half added great stability to the side and along with new keeper Katie Kilbane, the team only conceded 6 goals in 7 league games.

In order to force a playoff, GUST would need to beat Salthill Devon in Drom. This turned out to be a day of heartache for the girls who all put in huge effort throughout the season. They played Devon, and Ashe in the previous match without their talented midfielder Mary MacDonagh and all the team played in her honour.

The contest finished one-all, with chance after chance squandered, but the team was playing well and creating the oppor-tunities, knowing the goals would flow in coming games. In particular, wingers Mi-chelle Kearney and Regina Cunningham were utilising their pace to create these chances.

Most of the service to the wings and the backbone of the team came in the centre of midfield with Evelyn Coffey and Etaoin Friel who both have all the ball skills along with fighting spirit to light up any game and with Alma Lacken playing as a defensive midfielder they had a license to get for-ward at every chance. The Salthill draw left GUST second to Ashe Rovers on the final day.

It’s important with any team to mention the rest of the squad who put in some great performances and some of which scored important goals and not always starting on the bench. Without them, the team could not function. They were Marie Clifford, Lisa O’ Farrell, Katarzyna Rajska, The-resa Cleary, Emma Brannlund and Carrie Budds.

With the cup to play for, GUST drew Ashe Rovers away on the 3rd of October. An incredible hat trick from Rachel Stuart saw off Ashe on a day, as GUST played mostly on the break, but punished at every chance. The defence played out of their skins, with Jodi O’Donnell getting player of the match even with the spectacular hat trick from Stuart. This result showed how this team has improved and would play in the cup final in Terryland Park.

The season turned out to be a long one with the league only officially kicking off in early August, when GUST met Mervue United away. This had been a tough fixture over the last few years but GUST came out on top to win 2-1 with two goals from star strik-er for the season Rachel Stuart.

She would prove to be a massive player throughout the season often playing alone, up front. The win against Mervue gave the GUST ladies a new confidence and belief in themselves, and with the management of Lonan O’ Farrell and the new addition of experienced Jordi Hernandez the season looked bright. GUST was to go on unbeat-en for the season with wins against Ren-more, Oranbay, and Corofin but the league decider looked to be the game against Ashe Rovers.

On the night it was a question of nerves in the first half where Ashe were on top but the real GUST fighting spirit and talent came out second half. Chance after chance was cre-ated but the goal didn’t come and the game ended nil all. A last minute 35 yard volley from Ev Coffey smacked off the bar, sum-ming up GUST’s night.

The GUST defence of Sinead MacCormack, Sandra Jackson, Jodi O’Donnell and Sibeal Kane were very solid all season. The ad-dition of Claire Rockall at right back added pace on that side in absence of Kane. Jodi

guSt ladieS fc2010 SeaSon

It gives encouragement to any team compet-ing in or willing to join the women’s league that a team without a big budget or history can come out on top. It also must be said that some of these games in the women’s league were great spectacles and any sup-porter would tell you that this league is well worth following and needs all support it can get.

On the Final day Salthill won the game comfortably. The class of their club came through along with a host of internationals on display, but for GUST it was a season of success, where silverware wasn’t first in line, but pride from a group of women that put all on the line for every game and proved to many that a team fighting for each other can go a long way.

All of our other sponsorsThe Red CrossThe Civil DefenceAn Garda Siochana

All of the matchday team, everyone who helped out with ticket sales, turnstiles, stewarding, programme sales, half-time draw, hospitality and public address

Programme committeeWebsite and Facebook teamEveryone involved in match promotionGalway Bay FM, Connacht Tribune, Gal-way Advertiser, Galway Independent and the local and national media

Most of all, we would like thank all of you, our loyal supporters who have followed the team home and away in 2011. We look forward to your continued support in 2011, when we celebrate our 35th year in senior football.

Come on United !

Galway United would like to thank everyone who assisted and supported us this season.

We especially would like to thank :

Sean Connor and the first team squadGareth Gorman and the “A” team squadPaul McGee and the U20 squadTommy Lally, John Devlin, Bob Winn, James O’Toole, John Mellett, Barry O’Donovan and everyone else who helped out with our teams during the seasonLonan O’Farrell, Jordi Hernandez and the GUST womens squadThe Galway and District League and the ju-nior and juvenile clubs of the regionNoel Connolly and the FAS team at Terry-land ParkPat McDonagh and Papa JohnsElverys SportsSSL LogisticsMarriott HotelRaheen Woods HotelClaregalway HotelThe Arches Hotel

galway united fcthank you

Galway United Football Club 28

Mike GeraghtyRole at GU: PA & Maroon View Columnist

Occupation: Tennis CoachOther Sport(s) Involvement: Still winning tennis tournaments!Favourite GU Players Past&Present: Chick Deacy, Tommy Lally, Seamus Con-neely & Derek O’Brien. Favourite Other Team &Player: Leeds. Al-lan Clarke & Bradley Johnston. Favourite Other Sports Star: Rafael NadalFavourite Food: Steak/chicken/stewFavourite Drink: Mi-wadi orangeFavourite Biscuit: Choc Goldgrain/yellow snackFavourite Film: Ferris Bueller’s Day OffFavourite TV Programme: Fair CityFavourite Book: A Christmas CarolFavourite Writer: Ken BruenFavourite Actor/Actress: Harrison Ford & Scarlett Johansson

Best thing about GUFC: Die-hard support-ers & volunteersWorst thing about GUFC: Lack of support from armchair fansFirst match at Terryland: Athlone Town (Bass Lge Cup) 1976Best moment in football: Leeds winning Lge ’74 & ’92, gaining promotion ’90 & 2010. Going to GUFC with my dad 1976 and bringing my kids 2006. Hopefully Nov 2nd 2010!

Favourite Song: Strawberry Fields For-ever (Beatles)Favourite Singer: John LennonMottos: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.A winner never quits and a quitter never wins! Not many people know this about me but… I have set two World Records in Tennis!

Barry O’DonovanRole at Galway United: Club Doctor Occupation: GP & University LecturerOther Sport(s) Involvement: Play tennis for ConnachtFavourite Galway United Players Past & Present: Eamonn (Chick) Deacy, Tommy Lally, Rhys Meynell, Tom KingFavourite Other Team & Player: QPR, Don GivensFavourite Other Sports Star: Roger FedererFavourite Food: PastaFavourite Drink: GuinnessFavourite Biscuit: Oreos, Bourbon creamsFavourite Film: Circle of Friends, Wall StreetFavourite TV Programme: Frasier, Sex and the CityFavourite Book: Catcher in the RyeFavourite Writer: PG WodehouseFavourite Actor/Actress: Tom Hanks, Cath-erine Zeta Jones

Best thing about GUFC: Meetin Galwegians who love Galway United and sportWorst thing about GUFC: Always being “up against-it”: players, money, organisationFirst match at Terryland: Shamrock Rovers on a wet, windy Sunday afternoon in the eighties. Best moments in football: Galway United winning FAI Cup 1991,Ireland 1, England 0 (Stuttgart, Euro 1988)QPR winning FA Cup -1992, (sic)Ebbsfleet winning FA Trophy 2008

Favourite Song: “Desperado” (The Eagles)Favourite Singer: Elton JohnMotto: Always look on the bright side of lifeNot many people know this about me but….. I came 4th in the National Table Soccer competition

Backroomin profile

• AllpersonsenteringTerrylandParkareadmittedonlysubjecttothefollowingGroundRegulationsand

theRulesandRegulationsoftheFootballAssociationofIreland.Entrytothegroundshallbedeemed

toconstituteunqualifiedacceptanceofalltheseRulesandRegulations.Anypersonwhofailsto

complywiththeseGroundRegulationsmayberefusedentryorremovedfromtheground.

• Fireworks,Flares,Smokecanisters,bottles,glasses,flagpolesandothersimilararticlesorcontainers,

includinganything,whichmaybeusedasaweapon,arenotpermittedwithinthestadium.

• Theconsumptionofalcoholisnotpermittedwithinthegroundandspectatorsarenotpermittedto

bringalcoholintothestadium.

• Theunauthorisedclimbingofanystructure,wallsorbuildingsorseatinginthegroundisstrictly

forbidden.

• Unnecessarynoisesuchasthatfromtheuseofradiosets,gas-hornsandbehaviourlikelytocause

confusionornuisanceofanykindisnotpermitted.

• Thisincludestheuseoffoulorabusivelanguageandchantingofaracialorotherwiseoffensivenature.

• Unauthorisedpersonsarenotpermittedtoenteruponthefieldofplayatanytimebefore,duringor

afterthegames.

• TheGroundManagementreservestherighttorefuseadmissionortoejectanypersonwhorefusesto

besearchedwheresuchasearchisdeemednecessary.

• Apersonmaynotobstructagangway,stairwellorcirculationareaatanytime.

• Allpersonsenteringorinthegroundareremindedoftheirobligationtoensurethattheirbehaviour

doesnotpresentadangertoanyoneusingthepremises.

• TheGroundManagementreservestherightofitsservantsoragentstoremovefromthegroundany

personwhodoesnotcomplywiththeGroundregulationsorwhosepresenceinthegroundcould

reasonablybeconstruedasconstitutingasourceofdanger,nuisanceorannoyancetootherspectators.

• HawkerswillnotbepermittedintotheGround.

• TheGroundManagementreservestherighttorefuseadmissionortoejectanypersonwhorefusesto

besearchedbyamemberoftheGardaSiochana.

terryland parkruleS & regulationS

galway united footBall cluB cluB directoryGalway United Football ClubTerryland Park, Dyke Road, Galway Telephone : (091) 767336Mobile : (087) 6972823E-mail : info@galwayunitedfc.ieWebsite : www.galwayunitedfc.ie

Year Founded : 1937 (as Galway Rovers)

FAI Cup Champions : 1991FAI Cup Finalist : 1985League Championship Runners-Up : 1986League Cup Winners : 1986 and 1997League Cup Finalist : 1981First Division Champions : 1993First Division Runners-Up : 1999First Division Shield Winners : 1993 and 1997

President : Michael D. HigginsChairman : John McCormickChief Executive Officer : Nick Leeson

Management Team : Sean Connor, Gareth GormanGoalkeeping Coach : Tommy LallyKit-Man : John Devlin Event Controller : Tommy ShieldsSafety Officer : Chris KellyHead Steward : Aidan CallananStewards : Bryan Reynolds, Sean Gibbons, Michael Doherty, Thomas Frain, Atete Nygela, Kevin Gardiner, Colm Gardiner, Joshua Iku, Keith Howley, Sean Buckley, James Buckley, Lawal Tijani, Stephen Connolly, Samuel Sambu, Gary Mahon, Francis Kelly, Jason Mooney, Victor Afloabi.

Ticket Office/Gate : Sean McHugh, Nial O’Reilly, Martin Quinn, Noel Meehan, Diarmuid D’Arcy, Ronan O’GradyHospitality : Ger BuckleyWebsite Adminstrator : Neil RoweWebsite Developer : Daniel WalshMatchday Draw : Matt Fitzpatrick, William Furey, Michael Daly, Caroline Keady, Emmanuel MorleyMaroon Army Draw : Pat Burke, Sean Dunleavy, Chris O’Connor, Brian HughesPublic Address : Mike Geraghty Programme Editor : Rory JohnstonProgramme Design : Seán FlahertySales : Martin Fahy, Arthur Murphy, Máirtín Ó Mocháin, Ronan Coleman

Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division P W D L F A PTSShamrock Rovers 36 19 10 7 57 34 67Bohemians 36 19 10 7 50 29 67Sligo Rovers 36 17 12 7 61 36 63Sporting Fingal 36 16 14 6 60 38 62St Patrick’s Athletic 36 16 9 11 55 33 57Dundalk 36 14 6 16 46 50 48UCD 36 11 8 17 47 54 41Galway United 36 9 11 16 38 59 38Bray Wanderers 36 6 9 21 35 72 27Drogheda United 36 4 9 23 30 74 21

Airtricity League of Ireland First Division P W D L F A PTSDerry City 33 20 9 4 65 24 69Waterford United 33 20 6 7 59 27 66Monaghan United 33 18 8 7 59 29 62Shelbourne 33 18 7 8 57 31 61Limerick FC 33 17 6 10 55 35 57Cork City Foras Co-Op 33 15 7 11 39 31 52Wexford Youths 33 12 6 15 42 54 42Finn Harps 33 10 10 13 37 43 40Longford Town 33 9 8 16 39 53 35Athlone Town 33 6 13 14 35 50 31Mervue United 33 5 4 24 34 84 19Salthill Devon 33 3 6 24 26 86 15

Airtricity Dr Tony O’Neill Under-20 League Pool 4 P W D L F A PTSMervue Utd 10 7 0 3 27 19 21Salthill Devon 10 6 1 3 20 15 19Cork City Foras 10 5 1 4 23 13 16Galway Utd 10 5 1 4 22 20 16Limerick FC 10 4 1 4 20 22 13Tralee Dynamos 10 1 0 9 13 36 3

Galway & District Women’s Senior League P W D L F A PTSAshe Rovers 7 6 0 1 28 4 19 G.U.S.T. 7 5 0 2 18 6 17Salthill Devon 7 4 2 1 35 7 13Mervue United 6 3 3 0 14 9 9Oranbay 90 7 3 4 0 11 21 9Renmore 7 2 5 0 7 19 6Corofin United 7 1 5 1 14 35 4Cois Fharraige 6 0 5 1 4 30 1

how they all Stand

35 Galway United Football Club

Barry RyanDaire GeraghtyConor WinnSeamus ConneelyRory GartlanJamie MacKenzieShane McInerneyRhys MeynellPaul SinnottStephen WalshGary CurranGer CheeversCiaran FoleyJonathan KeaneNeal KeaneEvan Preston KellyGary KellyShane KeoghTom KingDerek O’BrienStephen O’DonnellPhilip ReillyDavid SheppardDarragh DugganJason MolloyKarl Sheppard

Riche BakerStephen BrennanNicholas ByrneGary DempseyDaire DoyleAndrei GeorgescuMatthew GreggSean HoustonBrian KaneJames KavanaghGraham KellyJake KellyRobert LambertDane MasseyAdam MitchellJohn MulroyMark O’BrienAdamO’ConnorDaniel O’ConnorShane O’Connor Shane O’NeillDerek PrendergastGary ShawChristopher ShieldsColm TressonIan TuohyDavid TyrrellDylan VickersDavid WebsterDean Zambra