Galway United academy graduate David Tarmey has signed a professional contract with the club.
Having already made five appearances for John Caulfield’s side this season, the United boss is "really excited" about the former Cregmore Claregalway FC youngster's prospects.
"The step up is really challenging," says Caulfield, "but David has come into us since he was 17, and we’re really excited about him.
"He’s a brilliant finisher, quick and skilful. Striker is the hardest position on the pitch, so it’s great to have a lad like that coming through. We’re very optimistic, and the most important thing for David is to keep his head down and work really hard.”
Tarmey follows in the footsteps of his friend and former teammate Alex Murphy to sign a professional contract, and says "it’s a great feeling".
"I’ve been training with the first team for about two months now and the squad has made me feel very welcome. It's a good feeling, seeing where some of the other lads have ended up, like Alex Murphy, so the academy is a great pathway," he says.
“My aim for the rest of the season is just to get as many minutes as possible, and hopefully get a few goals as well, that’s my job really.”
Tarmey was a late arrival to the United academy, only joining the club’s U17 side in July 2021, but he has quickly risen through the ranks after impressing coaches.
Academy head Johnny Glynn says Tarmey is an example of the talent out there that the club has not identified.
“We’re delighted for David. He came into the club very late. At academy level, we’re looking at players for a long period of time, and we’re trying to identify the players who are best suited to the National League, but we won’t always get it 100 per cent right.
“The boys are all developing at different rates, and David is still developing. So, it’s a long-term process that we have to be conscious of.”
Having spent much of his development under the guidance of Cregmore Claregalway chairman Brian O’Riordan, his former coach is delighted to see him sign professional terms.
“It’s absolutely brilliant from a local club perspective," O'Riordan says. "At Cregmore Claregalway FC we’ve been developing players for a number of years. We’ve had a few who have gone across the water and been very successful, like Greg Cunningham and Ryan Manning. David is another player who has joined that line, and it’s great to see him at Galway United now as well.“
