United building on and off the field

Galway United continues to build for the new season under manager Shane Keegan, with Gavan Holohan being the latest to move to Eamonn Deacy Park.

The 25-year-old midfielder from Kilkenny, who made 48 appearances for Cork City in two seasons, has enjoyed spells at Hull City and Drogheda United.

Keegan says Holohan, who has signed for a season, is a "wonderful addition" to the squad.

"He's a player you can give the ball to all day long, safe in the knowledge that he's just so, so good at retaining it, finding his own man and has a great awareness of space.

"He's the kind of player that can stamp his authority all over a game and keep you in possession of the ball when you need to do so."

Holoahn turned down offers from "so called bigger clubs" to join United, which he says has massive potential.

"It's a club that could really progress, everything is in place. It's a great city with a huge sporting presence," Holohan said. "Shane has come in and he's a young and positive manager and I can see the club going places and last year I enjoyed playing at Eamonn Deacy Park. A lot of things attracted me about the club.

Holohan will join Stephen Folan who has re-signed with United, while off the field Johnny Glynn and former Connacht and Wasps rugby player Johnny O'Connor have also signed up to the club.

Glynn has been appointed head of football development, while also joining Keegan's backroom team as first team coach. A natural progression for the Galway man, Glynn guided Galway United's U19 side to the final of the U19 League in October.

"I want to make sure every young player gets the opportunity to progress to fulfil their potential", Glynn says. "We have a great opportunity in Galway in terms of player development. Last year we did really well and we showed what we could do with some talented players from Galway city and county, Clare and Mayo, which was back-boned by a solid structure and good coaching staff."

Johnny O'Connor has joined as strength and conditioning coach for the 2017 season. O'Connor returns home after three years working with Premier League side Arsenal which he joined after playing rugby with English Premiership side Wasps.

 

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