Keegan continues to assemble his new-look United squad

Galway United's new-look squad is coming together at pace with another three players added this week.

Ronan Manning, Stephen Walsh returning home and promising youngster Adam Rooney have all signed up ahead of the new season.

Mannion, brother of former United player Ryan, has signed a contract extension.

The 17-year-old midfielder, who was a key player in Galway United’s u19 team last season, made the breakthrough into first team football at the tail end of the 2017 season.

It brings the squad number to 13 as Shane Keegan continues to finalise his players ahead of the February first division start.

Walsh is a familiar figure in Galway, having first began his Galway United career in 2010 when he joined from local side Galway Hibernians. Although he moved to Mervue United for two seasons, he returned to Terryland in 2014 to helped the club secure promotion to the premier division.

In all the 27-year-old centre-back made 145 appearances for United before heading to Longford Town and then Athlone.

Keegan says he has recruited Walsh primarily to play at centre-half, but believes his versatility offers the club options.

Describing Walsh as "wholehearted", Keegan says he is a player who likes a tackle, and is a "rugged defender, who actually enjoys defending".

Defender Adam Rooney, who was introduced to senior team training last season, has also joined the squad after starring for Alan Murphy's United's U17 squad.

The Leaving Cert student will also be eligible to play U19 football, and Murphy believes the youngster has a bright career ahead.

"Having witnessed Adam's footballing development to date, and knowing his ability, attitude and application, I'd fully expect that if he is correctly nurtured, Galway United will have one of, if not the, stand-out young central defender in the division this time next season.

"It’s very satisfying to see Adam's meteoric rise from local football to one of the stand-out underage players in the country."

Keegan says he has been impressed with Rooney.

"As far as I'm concerned, if a player is good enough and they're showing it on the training ground, they're going to be thrown into the first team. That's the carrot that is there for Adam."

2018 GALWAY UNITED SQUAD (12 ): Eoin McCormack, Ryan Connolly, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry, Aaron Conway, Maurice Nugent, Gary Kinneen, Gary Shanahan, Alex Byrne, Conor Melody, Stephen Walsh, Adam Rooney, Ronan Manning.

 

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