The Sligo Rovers team in 2012 that was the last side from Connacht to win the League of Ireland
John Caulfield’s Galway United have made it their business to be the unsettlers. The team no one wants to play in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Old school. Physical. Set piece merchants with a sturdy defence. A horrible away day. All the hallmarks of a side teams dread to square up against.
The Tribesmen’s record in the opening quarter of the 2025 season speaks for itself. Four wins, four draws and just one defeat. Shamrock Rovers dug in for a hard fought three points at Eamonn Deacy Park to hand Galway their maiden defeat of the year.
In their opening nine fixtures, Caulfield’s troops have ticked off some important milestones, including a first Connacht derby away win in 29 years over Sligo Rovers. Their provincial rivals are currently enduring the complete opposite of their fierce rivals as they find themselves rooted to the bottom of the top-flight table. Galway United also defeated second placed St Patrick’s Athletic and have gained two draws against fellow high-flyers Drogheda United and Shelbourne.
But can they sustain this over the course of a season?
After finishing in fifth place in 2024, Galway appear to have carried last year’s momentum to 2025 and look every bit like a team that will be challenging for European football at the very least this season.
The experience of Brendan Clarke, Greg Cunningham and Jimmy Keohane will surely be of great benefit to the group alongside the goals of Moses Dyer, Patrick Hickey and Vincent Borden. Add in a defence that concedes an average of less than one goal per game. Galway United appear to be going absolutely nowhere in this year’s League of Ireland Premier Division.