by Declan Varley
Galway United’s senior women’s team play The Underdogs this weekend in a stirring finale to the Tg4 reality series, but the terms underdogs can no longer be applied to the cup-winning United side after a stirring season which has seen the club reward manager Phil Trill with a new two-year contract.
The deal, announced by the club on Tuesday, will see him stay in charge of the club’s upward progress until 2025. The news will be welcomed by fans thrilled by the side’s fourth-place finish in the Women’s National League.
Galway United Women’s played their first season in 2023; they defeated Cliftonville in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup final in July to win their first-ever trophy. In the league, United finished fourth with 38 points, which included a victory over champions Peamount United. The team reached the Women’s FAI Cup quarter-finals but lost on penalties to eventual winners Athlone Town.
In recognition of his achievements as manager this year, Phil Trill was nominated for Women’s Premier Division Manager of the Year at the SSE Airtricity LOIW Awards. He is currently nominated for the same award by PFA Ireland.
Phil has significant experience in the women’s game, having been part of the on-field management team at Galway WFC for over five years as well as leading the U17 and U19 squads to double league and cup titles as the Youth Development Manager. He is also well versed on all of the up and coming underage talent in the region, having worked on the Centre of Excellence and National Academy projects with the FAI.
Indeed, during the pandemic lockdown, Trill offered free online coaching to talented young players around the region and this added to his extensive knowledge of the talent pool that exists in the west.
Speaking to the club’s media team, Phil has expressed his delight as well as looking forward to the next few years as first-team manager:
“I’m really happy to be able to sign a two-year deal, it’s a sign of attention from our club, over the past year we have made significant progress when you think back to this time last year. It’s a credit to the great people that I have around me and the great people within the club that believe.
“We’re already looking forward and plans are well in place for these next two years and further beyond for the club, the west has proven itself this year in terms of delivering silverware and it’s something we’re really proud of. From a personal approach, I’m very honoured that I’ve been entrusted with this for the next couple of years, let’s keep moving.”
Phil also discussed continuing the momentum with the young squad going into next year:
“Everyone at the club has been absolutely amazing, the players that we have coming through are phenomenal, having Galway United behind them has really pushed everybody on, it’s great, really positive and I really to believe there is more to come. There’s more to build on and we’re very clear on the pathway forward.”
Unite are back on the live TV screens this weekend when they play the TG4 Underdogs will be taking on Galway United in the first ever UNDERDOGS exhibition match to feature women’s football.
The match will be played in Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway at 7:35pm and will air live on Spórt Beo: Underdogs v Galway United with coverage starting at 7pm.
The Underdogs is a unique group composed of players from all over the country who have never competed at senior international level. For many of these players, this will be the biggest and greatest match they’ve ever played.
They have been trained by veterans of the game – Méabh de Búrca who played with Galway WFC for nine seasons and has 52 caps with the Republic of Ireland, Laura Donovan UEFA A licensed coach and Head of womens’ football at Drogheda United and Charlie McGeever, former Finn Harps manager and player.
Over the course of the Underdogs series we have followed the players as they fight for their place on the squad at every camp, as well as hearing their incredible personal stories of tragedy and triumph. Now they are ready to face the League of Ireland team Galway United.
Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland Director, said: “The new series of Underdogs has already proved to be thoroughly entertaining and also insightful to the stories behind so many women’s players – some of whom are familiar to League of Ireland supporters and some are new faces. But all of the players involved have brought something different, on and off the pitch.
“In what has already been a truly memorable year with our Ireland Women’s National Team making history by competing at a first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup, participation levels up in women and girls’ football, more female volunteers, coaches, referees and administrators involved in the game and a fantastic League of Ireland season drawing to a close.
So we are excited to see how the Underdogs series plays out and how they fare against Galway United. Best of luck to both teams.” TG4’s Head of Sport, Rónán Ó Coisdealbha said: “TG4 are very much looking forward to the live televised match between the Underdogs team and Galway United. This match will round-off TG4’s successful year of live coverage from the FAI League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division and give the Underdogs a big opportunity against a Galway side who won the All-Island Cup earlier this season.”
Because the match is the finale to the TV series, it is hoped that a large crowd will attend. Tickets for the game are on sale at €5 at galwayunitedfc.ie
