2021 Season Preview: Galway

Manager: Billy Clery

Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park

Players in: Maja Zajc, Trish Fennelly, Ruth Fahy, Chloe Moloney, Peggy Ford, Rachel Kearns, Abbie Callanan, Aoibheann Costello, Kaya-Lily Pottinger, Elena van Niekerk, Saoirse Healy, Anna Fahey.

Players out: Amanda Budden, Abbiegayle Royanne, Ria McPhilbin, Lucia Lobato, Meabh de Burca, Rachel Baynes, Jamie Turrentine, Aoife Lynagh, Kelsey Munroe, Aislinn Meaney.

Extratime.com Key Player: Savannah McCarthy

The Republic of Ireland international returned to Galway last year having spent a number of years with Glasgow City and Cork City.

McCarthy made an instant impact at Eamonn Deacy Park last season with plenty of tough tackling and energetic performances in the centre of the field throughout 2020.

Being one of the more experienced players at the club, McCarthy will again be an important part of Billy Clery’s side and the 24 year old will be looking to put her stamp on the club during a full season with The Tribeswomen in 2021.

Extratime.com One to Watch: Shauna Brennan

The Republic of Ireland Under 17 international was the only Galway player included on the WNL Team of the Year for the 2020 season as Brennan managed to turn heads during her first season at senior level last year.

The defender was a significant part of Phil Trill’s League and Cup winning Under 17 side at the club in 2019 and her seamless adaption to the first team at Deacy Park has been remarkable.

Not even 20 years old, Brennan is still learning the game and will be an exciting player to watch this season to see if she can build on an excellent debut season.

How they did last season:

League:

Having made good progress in 2018 and 2019 with two fourth placed finishes in the Women’s National League, Billy Clery’s side will have been disappointed to finish fifth last year.

A major problem for them is beating the top three sides in the country, Peamount United, Shelbourne and Wexford, with Galway failing to win a single game against those sides again last season.

Galway’s form dipped to dismal levels as the season came to a close last year, with the side losing five games in a row and scoring just two goals to end 2020 which left them five points adrift of Cork City in fourth place.

Women’s FAI Cup:

Galway got a tough draw for the quarter final of the WFAI Cup with Wexford Youths their opponents last October.

Despite the home side taking the lead through Meabh de Burca in the first half, Wexford responded with two goals in quick succession from Ciara Rossiter and Vanessa Ogbonna before half time.

Jamie Turrentine drew the sides level midway through the second half but a late Lauren Kelly goal for Youths was enough to knock Galway out of the Cup.

What to expect this season:

The target for a few years now has been to break into the top three, which would be a record high finish for the club.

Clery has made some interesting signings which would signal an improvement in quality with experienced players Trish Fennelly and Ruth Fahy coming back into the League to play for Galway.

Rachel Kearns has performed well in pre-season, and Chloe Moloney has come in from WNL Champions Peamount United which is all positive for the club.

None of it means anything if they fail to regularly beat the top three teams in the League however, and the quality is definitely there but they need to break that hoodoo in 2021 to progress.

Title Odds: 12/1

First game: Cork City (home)