Galway United Women begin their defence of the Women’s All-Island Cup with a repeat of the 2023 final in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 3pm ).
The Tribeswomen go into this game having accumulated 13 of the 15 league points on offer, with crucial league games in May to follow.
There is not as much known about their opponents heretofore in 2025, their league season only begins in May. They will not be taken lightly.
They provided a stern test in the final in 2023, boasting a number of Northern Irish internationals in their ranks. They comfortably won their domestic league last year, winning every game. They have also been in league cup action this season, beating Linfield 3-2 and demolishing Derry City 6-0.
There are a few survivors from the 2023 campaign who will be familiar faces. Caitlin McGuinness stood out that day in Sligo and played for Northern Ireland in the European Championships in 2022. Her sister Kirsty is another international with great talent and pedigree. Captain Kelsie Burrows was in the national squad for their recent Nations League win over Romania.
Phil Trill’s focus will be internal. He has rotated so far this season, Aoibheann Costello, Lucy Jane Grant, Eve Dossen and Isabella Beletic have been the only players to play the full 450 minutes so far.
Not far behind is the league’s player of the month for March, Emma Doherty who has five goals in five games. She inspired against her old side Sligo in an important win last Saturday.
That game was also notable for the starts handed to teenagers Ava Mullins and Emily Fitzgerald. The latter, a former prodigy of Salthill Devon, capped off a fine performance with a goal in the 84th minute to seal victory.
Over the course of five games so far, Phil Trill has used 22 players. It is therefore difficult to predict what sort of line-up he will opt for. What is for sure, is that he would prefer to have the likes of Shauna Fox, Ceola Bergin and Aislinn Meaney at his disposal who have all missed matchday squads recently.
So far, the squad has shown sufficient depth, and Saturday will be another test of their credentials. The cup has carved out a significant place in the history of Galway United and they will not want to relinquish it lightly.
There is significant opportunity also to make progress in the league and a key phase is upcoming. Juggling these priorities is the task at hand for management.
