Galway United W.F.C.

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Galway United
Full nameGalway United Football Club
Nickname(s)The Tribeswomen
Short nameUnited
Founded2023
Ground Eamonn Deacy Park
Capacity5,001 (3,300 seats)
ChairmanJonathan Corbett
ManagerPhil Trill
League League of Ireland Women's Premier Division
2024 3rd
Website www.galwayunitedfc.ie

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 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]

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]

The club finished third in its second season in the Women's National League. [11] Julie-Ann Russell was selected as the Player of the Year and Jenna Slattery was awarded the Golden Boot at the 2024 SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Awards. Both Russell and Slattery were named to the 2024 Premier Division Team of the Year along with Kate Thompson. [12]

Notably, Galway United achieved a 5-0 home win against Cork City on March 16, 2024, breaking The SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division attendance record when 2,861 people attended Galway United’s win over DLR Waves at Eamonn Deacy Park. It beat the previous record of 1,464 who were at the 2023 clash between Shamrock Rovers and Peamount United. [13]

All Island (Avenir) Cup

The club achieved 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. [14]

Galway United successfully defended their title in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup for the second year in a row. After progressing through the group stages and knockout rounds, they faced Shamrock Rovers in the final at Tallaght Stadium. The match concluded in a 0-0 draw which resulted in Galway United clinching the victory through a 4-3 penalty shootout. [15]

Grounds

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

Personnel

Updated 2025

Current squad

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Abbiegayle Ronayne
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 Ireland.svg  IRL Shauna Fox
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 Aoibhín Donnelly
12 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Jodie Griffin
13 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kyah Coady
14 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Therese Kinnevey
No.Pos.NationPlayer
15 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Amy Madden
16 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Abbie Callanan
17 FW Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Amanda Smith
18 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Ceola Bergin
19 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Ava Mullins
20 GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Nicole Nix
21 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Heather Loomes
22 DF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Eve Dossen
23 FW Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Emma Doherty
24 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Emma Duffy
26 GK Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Jayne Merren
71 MF Flag of Ireland.svg  IRL Niamh Farrelly

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

[16]

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. Archived from the original on 7 February 2016. 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. "2024 Women's National League". extratime.com. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  12. "2024 SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division Award Winners Confirmed". leagueofireland.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  13. "League of Ireland Crowds Rise Over Half a Million for First Time at Summer Break". galwaybayfm.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  14. "Galway United win first edition of Avenir Sports All-Island Cup". RTÉ Sport . 23 July 2023. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  15. "Galway secure back-to-back All-Island Cup wins with penalty shootout win over Shamrock Rovers". independent.ie. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  16. Donnelly, Dave (23 July 2023). "Avenir All-Island Cup Final Report: Cliftonville 0 - 1 Galway United". extratime.ie. Retrieved 7 August 2023.