Galway United W.F.C.

Last updated

Galway United
Full nameGalway United Football Club
Short nameUnited
Founded2023
Ground Eamonn Deacy Park
Capacity5,001 (3,300 seats)
ChairmanJonathan Corbett
ManagerPhil Trill
League League of Ireland Women's Premier Division
Website Club website

Galway United Football Club (Women) is the women's section of the League of Ireland association football club Galway United, based in the city of Galway. The team currently complete in the League of Ireland Women's Premier Division. The club is the successor club to Galway W.F.C., with Galway United launching teams at senior, u-19 and u-17 level [1] after Galway W.F.C announced its withdrawal from the Women's National League at the end of 2022. [2]

Contents

History

Galway WFC

Galway teams had competed in national competitions for a number of years, and Galway W.F.C. joined the Women's National League for the 2013-2014 season. [3]

At the end of 2022, the club announced they had "reluctantly decided not to apply for inclusion in next season's SSE Airtricity Women's National League", due to additional costs. [4] Chair Stephan Moran included in the statement the hope that "that other individuals or entities [would] take up the mantle to continue the tradition of senior and underage women's football in Galway in 2023". [4]

Galway United WFC

On September 13, 2022, Galway United announced that they were disappointed with the news of Galway W.F.C.'s demise, and would begin a "process of dialogue with all interested stakeholders" to explore options to ensure Galway was represented in women's football and senior and underage levels. [5] On October 5, the club announced they would be launching women's teams for the first time, entering a senior team in the Women's National League in 2023 and underage teams at u-17 and u-19 level. [1]

Former Galway W.F.C. assistant manager Phil Trill was confirmed as Galway United's first-ever senior women's team manager on December 3, saying "I’m delighted to have this opportunity. To be the first ever manager to take a women’s team into Galway United is very exciting". [6] Lynsey McKey was confirmed as club captain, with Jenna Slattery and Therese Kinnevey as vice-captains, ahead of the start of the season. [7]

Debut Season

League

Galway United played their first official game at home at Eamon Deacy Park on March 4th 2023, losing narrowly to Wexford Youths. [8] .

The club finished fourth in its first season in the Women's National League, [9] with midfielder Jenna Slattery being named in the 2023 Premier Division Team of the Year, and forward Jodie Griffin winning the TG4 Goal of the Year award. [10]

All Island (Avenir) Cup

The club also tasted success in their debut season, defeating Cliftonville 1-0 to win the All-Island Cup at The Showgrounds, with Gemma McGuinness scoring the winning goal. [11]

Grounds

Galway United's principal home ground is Eamonn Deacy Park, previously known as Terryland Park.

Personnel

[12]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kaylee Hammer
2 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Aoibheann Costello
3 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Lucy Jayne Grant
4 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Isabella Beletic
5 DF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Jamie Erickson
6 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Jenna Slattery
7 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Aislinn Meaney
8 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Kate Thompson
9 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Rola Olusola
10 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Lynsey McKey(captain)
11 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Julie-Ann Russell
No.Pos.NationPlayer
12 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Jodie Griffin
13 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Emily Kavanaugh
14 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Therese Kinnevey
15 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Amy Madden
16 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Abbie Callanan
18 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Róisín Jacob
19 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Aoife Thompson
20 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jessica Berlin
21 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Heather Loomes
22 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Eve Dossen
24 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Emma Duffy
26 GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Maria O'Sullivan

Technical staff

PositionName
ManagerPhil Trill
Assistant Manager/ Goalkeeping DevelopmentAdrian Cronan
Opposition AnalystGabriel Darcy
Technical CoachTheresa Keane
CoachPaul Sinnot
Assistant Goalkeeping CoachPatrick Martyn
Head of Athletic DevelopmentFiona Kashmer
Kit PersonMarc O'Goill
Sports PsychologistStephanie Doherty
PhysiotherapistRoisin Leen
Sports ScientistEvan O'Connor

Management

PositionStaff
ChairmanJonathan Corbett
SecretaryJohn Flannery
Media OfficerJonathan Higgins
Graphic DesignerMorgan O'Brien
Content CreationPaul Mladjenovic

Shirt sponsors and manufacturers

Year Kit manufacturerMain Sponsor
2023 O'Neills Comer Property Management

Managerial history

DatesName
2023– Flag of Ireland.svg Phil Trill

Honours

[13]

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References

  1. 1 2 Higgens, Jonathan (5 October 2022), "GALWAY UNITED CLUB STATEMENT – WOMEN'S FOOTBALL UPDATE", galwayunitedfc.ie, retrieved 6 August 2023
  2. Duffy, Emma (11 September 2022). "Galway WFC 'reluctantly decide' not to apply for 2023 WNL inclusion". The42.ie. TheJournal.ie . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  3. Kelly, Keith (13 June 2013). "Galway women come together to form new National League side". Connacht Tribune . Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  4. 1 2 O'Connor, Sean (11 September 2022). "Galway WFC withdraw from Women's National League". The Irish Independent . Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. Higgens, Jonathan (13 September 2022), "GALWAY UNITED CLUB STATEMENT – WOMEN'S FOOTBALL", galwayunitedfc.ie, retrieved 6 August 2023
  6. Murray, Joseph (3 December 2022), "Phil Trill Appointed as Senior Women's Manager", galwayunitedfc.ie, retrieved 6 August 2023
  7. Higgens, Jonathan (28 February 2023), "Lynsey McKey Confirmed As First Ever Senior Women's Club Captain", galwayunitedfc.ie, retrieved 6 August 2023
  8. "Match Report". galwayunitedfc.ie. 6 March 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  9. "2023 Women's National League". extratime.com. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  10. "Peamount United big winners at Women's Premier Division Awards", irishexaminer.com, Irish Examiner, 20 November 2023, retrieved 16 March 2024
  11. "Galway United win first edition of Avenir Sports All-Island Cup". rte.ie. RTE. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  12. "First Team Women", galwayunitedfc.ie, retrieved 16 March 2024
  13. Donnelly, Dave (23 July 2023). "Avenir All-Island Cup Final Report: Cliftonville 0 - 1 Galway United". extratime.ie. Retrieved 7 August 2023.