Galway FC manager Tommy Dunne has started his recruitment process ahead of pre-season training which will commence in the second week of January.
Seven players have been signed by Galway FC while others have been given conditioning programmes to follow and they will be assessed by Dunne early in the New Year.
Paul Sinnott, who has extensive Airtricity League experience with Galway United and Mervue, will be the club captain. Jason Molloy, Stephen Walsh, Marc Ludden, Noel Varley, Martin Conneely, and Colm Horgan have also signed deals with Galway FC.
Dunne believes it is an exciting time for footballers in the west of Ireland; “It's good that we have started to sign players and it will leave us in a good position when training starts. I'm very happy with the players we are signing. All the players seem genuinely excited about joining a Galway team that will be playing at Eamonn Deacy Park. It has been a hectic couple of weeks since I have taken the job here, but it is great to get the lads on board.”
Former Cork City chief Dunne is adamant that Sinnott, 27, a popular figure in the Galway game, is the ideal person to act as skipper. “Paul has proven with Galway United and Mervue that he has the required leadership qualities,” he said.
“He is a consistent and steady player with the right qualities to do this job well for us. I've been impressed in my meetings with him. In this short period he has shown himself to be a good character. Our squad will have plenty of youth so it is important that we have a few older, experienced guys like Paul to help them through the challenges that await.”
Nineteen-year-old Horgan, who has been highly impressive in the Salthill Devon shirt, is thrilled to become part of Galway FC and reckons there is sufficient talent Corribside to make a serious promotion push. “Mervue United did very well last season and with a few of the lads that played for Salthill Devon I think we can do well. There should be a good team in Galway with the talent that is in the county,” Horgan said.
“Promotion should be our aim. When you look around the League of Ireland, Galway lads are involved with many of the top clubs. There is huge potential in Galway.”
Season tickets, which include significant discounts with several local businesses listed on www.galwayfc.ie, are on sale for the 2014 campaign and can be purchased from Galway FC club office at Eamonn Deacy Park, Mervue United AFC clubhouse, O'Brien's newsagents William Street, Rafterys Oakland Hotel Glenamaddy, Reidy Menswear Galway Shopping Centre, and The Square Inn Athenry.
For further information contact Galway FC club office at (091 ) 701028.
