2026 Galway United F.C. season
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 2026 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | John Caulfield | |||
| Stadium | Eamonn Deacy Park, Pearse Stadium | |||
| Premier Division | 6th | |||
| FAI Cup | 2nd Round | |||
| Top goalscorer | Kris Twardek (5) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 4,611 2–1 v Derry City 3 April 2026 (Premier Dvision) | |||
|
| ||||
The 2026 Galway United F.C. season will be the football club's 48th season in the League of Ireland and their third consecutive season in the League of Ireland Premier Division since gaining promotion in 2023.
As a result of drainage work at the club’s usual home Eamonn Deacy Park during the season, the club will be playing some of their home games at the home of Galway GAA, Pearse Stadium.
Transfers
| # | Name | Nationality | Position | Date of birth (age) |
Previous Club | Signed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||
| 1 | Evan Watts |  |
GK | September 23, 2004 | Swansea City |
2025 | Loan |
| 16 | Hugo Cunha |  |
GK | September 6, 2001 | Famalicão |
2026 | |
| Defenders | |||||||
| 2 | Arthur Parker |  |
DF | May 3, 2006 | Swansea City |
2026 | Loan |
| 3 | Connor Barratt |  |
DF | April 5, 2004 | Barnsley |
2026 | Loan |
| 5 | Killian Brouder | |
DF | August 20, 1998 | Limerick |
2019 | |
| 12 | Gianfranco Facchineri |  |
DF | April 27, 2002 | Valour FC |
2026 | |
| 15 | Wasiri Williams | |
DF | April 1, 2000 |  Daugavpils |
2026 | |
| 28 | James Morahan | |
DF | Salthill Devon |
2026 | ||
| 30 | Al-Amin Kazeem | |
DF | April 6, 2002 | St Patrick's Athletic |
2026 | |
| Midfielders | |||||||
| 4 | Jimmy Keohane | |
MF | January 22, 1991 | Rochdale |
2024 | Captain |
| 6 | Axel Piesold | |
MF | March 31, 2005 | Luton Town |
2025 | |
| 8 | Aaron Bolger | |
MF | February 2, 2000 | St Patrick's Athletic |
2025 | |
| 10 | David Hurley | |
MF | October 21, 1998 | Cobh Ramblers |
2020 | Vice-captain |
| 11 | Kris Twardek | |
MF | March 8, 1997 | Valour FC |
2026 | |
| 14 | Matty Wolfe | |
MF | June 12, 2000 | Sligo Rovers |
2026 | |
| 17 | Junior Thiam | |
MF | October 28, 2006 | Academy |
2025 | |
| 20 | Lee Devitt | |
MF | June 3, 2000 | Treaty United |
2026 | |
| 22 | Conor McCormack | |
MF | May 18, 1990 | Derry City |
2021 | |
| 24 | Ed McCarthy | |
MF | April 20, 2001 | Regional United |
2022 | |
| Forwards | |||||||
| 7 | Stephen Walsh | |
FW | August 29, 1990 | Galway Hibernians |
2018 | |
| 9 | Francely Lomboto | |
FW | July 2, 2000 |  Glenavon |
2026 | |
| 23 | Frantz Pierrot |  |
FW | April 20, 1999 |  Bnei Yehuda |
2026 | |
| 27 | Dara McGuinness | |
FW | February 12, 2004 | Finn Harps |
2025 | |
| 29 | Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau | |
FW | May 21, 2002 | Vancouver Whitecaps |
2026 | |
In
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | Last club | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 November 2025 | DF | |
Wasiri Williams | Daugavpils |
[1] |
| 1 December 2025 | MF | |
Kris Twardek | Valour FC |
[2] |
| 2 December 2025 | MF | |
Lee Devitt | Treaty United |
[3] |
| 4 December 2025 | MF | |
Matty Wolfe | Sligo Rovers |
[4] |
| 5 December 2025 | DF | |
Gianfranco Facchineri | Valour FC |
[5] |
| 6 January 2026 | DF | |
Al-Amin Kazeem | St Patrick's Athletic |
[6] |
| 7 January 2026 | FW | |
Francely Lomboto | Glenavon |
[7] |
| 26 January 2026 | FW | |
Nicolas Fleuriau Chateau | Vancouver Whitecaps |
[8] |
| GK | |
Hugo Cunha | Famalicão | ||
| 23 February 2026 | FW | |
Frantz Pierrot | Bnei Yehuda |
[9] |
Out
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 November 2025 | GK | |
Brendan Clarke | Athlone Town |
[10] |
| 14 November 2025 | DF | |
Garry Buckley | Cobh Ramblers |
[11] |
| 14 November 2025 | FW |  |
Malcolm Shaw | [12] | |
| 21 November 2025 | DF |  |
Jeannot Esua | Sligo Rovers |
[13] |
| 22 November 2025 | MF |  |
Patrick Hickey | Bohemians |
[14] |
| 23 November 2025 | MF | |
Vincent Borden | Kerry |
[15] |
| DF | |
Regan Donelon | |||
| DF | |
Bobby Burns | Dundalk | ||
| MF | |
Jeremy Sivi |  FK Loznica | ||
| 30 November 2025 | DF | |
Rob Slevin | Derry City |
[16] |
| 1 January 2026 | MF | |
Steven Healy | Treaty United |
[17] |
| 28 January 2026 | DF | |
Greg Cunningham | Retired | [18] |
Loan In
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | From | Date until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2026 | DF | |
Arthur Parker | Swansea City |
31 June 2026 | [19] |
| GK | |
Evan Watts | ||||
| 3 February 2026 | DF | |
Connor Barratt | Barnsley |
[20] | |
Loan Out
| Date | Position | Nationality | Name | To | Date until | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 February 2026 | FW | |
Cillian Tollett | Athlone Town |
1 November 2026 | [21] |
Club
- Manager: John Caulfield
- Assistant Manager: Richie Holland
- First Team Coach: Alan Murphy
- Goalkeeping Coach: Gianluca Aimi
- Strength and Conditioning Coach: Sean Murphy
- Performance Coach: Danny Broderick
- Physiotherapist: Richard Grier
- Athletic Therapist: Anthony Curran
- Analyst: Robert Crosbie
- Opposition Analyst: Mark Herrick
- Kitman: Kenneth Flaherty
Competitions
League of Ireland Premier Division
League Table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Bohemians | 13 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 20 |
| 5 | Derry City | 13 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 17 |
| 6 | Galway United | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 15 |
| 7 | Shelbourne | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 21 | −2 | 13 |
| 8 | Drogheda United | 12 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 16 | 20 | −4 | 13 |
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2026. Source: League of Ireland
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.
Results summary
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 |
Last updated: 24 April 2026.
Source: [23]
Results by round
Updated to match(es) played on 24 April 2026. Source: 2026 League of Ireland Premier Division
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
Win Draw Loss
| 6 February 2026 1 | Galway United | 0–1 | Drogheda United | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Williams  19' Walsh 31' Hurley  65' |
Report | Kane 10' Agbaje 38' Godden  90+1' |
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 3,027 Referee: Oliver Moran |
| 20 February 2026 2 | Shelbourne | 1–1 | Galway United | Drumcondra, Dublin 3 |
| 19:45 GMT | Ledwidge 17' Henry-Francis 40'Wood 64' (pen.)Freitas 90' |
Report | Twardek 62' Williams 63'Bolger 72'Hurley 77' |
Stadium: Tolka Park Attendance: 4,052 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan |
| 27 February 2026 3 | Galway United | 1–0 | Sligo Rovers | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Keohane 19' Bolger 28' |
Report | Quirk 28' Esua 42' McHugh  90+6' |
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 3,456 Referee: Rob Hennessy |
| 2 March 2026 4 | St Patrick's Athletic | 1–0 | Galway United | Inchicore, Dublin 8 |
| 19:45 GMT | Palmer 2' Baggley 69' Leavy 90' Boyce 90+3' |
Report | Brouder 6' Williams 90+5' |
Stadium: Richmond Park Attendance: 3,809 Referee: Aaron O’Dowd |
| Note: Fixture was originally scheduled for 13 February, but was postponed following a pitch inspection at Richmond Park. | ||||
| 6 March 2026 5 | Galway United | 2–2 | Dundalk | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Walsh 52' Devitt 52' Twardek 64' 82' Wolfe 88' |
Report | Arubi 12' O'Keeffe 17' Burns 82' |
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 1,933 Referee: Alan Patchell |
| 13 March 2026 6 | Bohemians | 1–0 | Galway United | Phibsborough, Dublin 7 |
| 19:45 GMT | Vaughan 42' Devoy 45'Hickey 87' |
Report | Bolger 67' |
Stadium: Dalymount Park Attendance: 4,096 Referee: Daniel Murphy |
| 16 March 2026 7 | Galway United | 4–3 | Waterford | Terryland, County Galway |
| 20:00 GMT | Twardek 11', 61' Hurley 45+3' (pen.) 81' Pierrot 64' 90' |
Report | Cann 30' Facchineri 36' (o.g.) Heeney 44' Amond 38' Lonergan 90+2' (pen.) |
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 1,836 Referee: Kevin O'Sullivan |
| Note: Live on Virgin Media | ||||
| 20 March 2026 8 | Shamrock Rovers | 2–0 | Galway United | Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
| 20:00 GMT | Grant 40' Healy 76'Greene 86' |
Report | Parker 38' Facchineri 90' |
Stadium: Tallaght Stadium Attendance: 4,748 Referee: Aaron O'Dowd |
| 3 April 2026 9 | Galway United | 2–1 | Derry City | Terryland, County Galway |
| 20:00 GMT | Hurley 17' 90+5' Pierrot 81' |
Report | Clarke 63' |
Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park Attendance: 4,611 Referee: Neil Doyle |
| Note: Live on Virgin Media | ||||
| 6 April 2026 10 | Drogheda United | 2–3 | Galway United | Drogheda, County Louth |
| 17:00 GMT | Doyle 3' Godden 18' |
Report | Kazeem 16' Lomboto 20'Twardek 61'Piesold 68'Wolfe 73'Barratt 78'Walsh 84'Watts 90' |
Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park Attendance: 2,733 Referee: Oliver Moran |
| 10 April 2026 11 | Galway United | P–P | Shelbourne | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park | |||
| Note: Fixture was postponed following a pitch inspection at Eamonn Deacy Park. | ||||
| 17 April 2026 12 | Dundalk | 2–1 | Galway United | Dundalk, County Louth |
| 19:45 GMT | Animasahun 45' Wilson 56'McDaid 81', 85' |
Report | Wolfe 49' Walsh 90' |
Stadium: Oriel Park Attendance: 2763 Referee: Daryl Carolan |
| 24 April 2026 13 | Waterford | 1–1 | Galway United | Waterford, County Waterford |
| 19:45 GMT | Houston 18' McMenamy 90+6' |
Report | Brouder 43' Hurley 83' Watts 85' |
Stadium: RSC Attendance: 1,826 Referee: Paul Norton |
| 1 May 2026 14 | Galway United | v | St Patrick's Athletic | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 4 May 2026 15 | Derry City | v | Galway United | Derry, Northern Ireland |
| 17:00 GMT | Stadium: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium |
| 8 May 2026 16 | Galway United | v | Shamrock Rovers | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 16 May 2026 17 | Sligo Rovers | v | Galway United | Sligo, County Sligo |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: The Showgrounds |
| 22 May 2026 18 | Galway United | v | Bohemians | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 29 May 2026 19 | Shelbourne | v | Galway United | Drumcondra, Dublin 3 |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Tolka Park |
| 12 June 2026 20 | Galway United | v | Dundalk | Salthill, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Pearse Stadium |
| 19 June 2026 21 | Galway United | v | Derry City | Salthill, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Pearse Stadium |
| 26 June 2026 22 | Shamrock Rovers | v | Galway United | Tallaght, Dublin 24 |
| 20:00 GMT | Stadium: Tallaght Stadium |
| 3 July 2026 23 | St Patrick's Athletic | v | Galway United | Inchicore, Dublin 8 |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Richmond Park |
| 10 July 2026 24 | Galway United | v | Sligo Rovers | Salthill, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Pearse Stadium |
| 24 July 2026 25 | Galway United | v | Waterford | Salthill, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Pearse Stadium |
| 31 July 2026 26 | Bohemians | v | Galway United | Phibsborough, Dublin 7 |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Dalymount Park |
| 7 August 2026 27 | Galway United | v | Drogheda United | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 21 August 2026 28 | Dundalk | v | Galway United | Dundalk, County Louth |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Oriel Park |
| 28 August 2026 29 | Galway United | v | Shelbourne | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 5 September 2026 30 | Sligo Rovers | v | Galway United | Sligo, County Sligo |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: The Showgrounds |
| 11 September 2026 31 | Galway United | v | Bohemians | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 18 September 2026 32 | Derry City | v | Galway United | Derry, Northern Ireland |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium |
| 9 October 2026 33 | Waterford | v | Galway United | Waterford, County Waterford |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: RSC |
| 16 October 2026 34 | Galway United | v | Shamrock Rovers | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 23 October 2026 35 | Galway United | v | St Patrick's Athletic | Terryland, County Galway |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park |
| 30 October 2026 36 | Drogheda United | v | Galway United | Drogheda, County Louth |
| 19:45 GMT | Stadium: Sullivan and Lambe Park |
FAI Cup
Win Draw Loss
Second Round
| 17/18/19 July 2026 Second Round | Galway United | v | TBC | TBC |
| TBC | Stadium: TBC |
Friendlies
Win Draw Loss
Pre-season Friendlies
| 30 December 2025 | Mervue United | 0–5 | Galway United | Ballybane, County Galway |
| 14:30 GMT | Lomboto 19', 24' Twardek 43' Tollett 48' 69', 83' |
Stadium: Castlepark Referee: Marc Lynch |
| 4 January 2026 | Moyne Villa | 1–1 | Galway United | Headford, County Galway |
| 12:00 GMT | Moran |
Twardek |
Stadium: Presentation Grounds |
| 9 January 2026 | Treaty United | 0–2 | Galway United | Ennis, County Clare |
| 19:30 GMT | Stadium: Frank Healy Park |
| 18 January 2026 | Finn Harps | 2–3 | Galway United | Ballybofey, County Donegal |
| 14:00 GMT | Johnston 30' McAteer 85' |
Report | Tollett 48', 60' Kazeem 62' |
Stadium: Finn Park |
| Note: This match paid tribute to former Finn Harps manager and Galway United assistant manager Ollie Horgan, who passed away the previous year. | ||||
| 20 January 2026 | Newport County | 1–2 | Galway United | Newport, Wales |
| 14:00 GMT | Stadium: Dragon Park |
| 22 January 2026 | Cardiff City U21 | 0–4 | Galway United | Glamorgan, Wales |
| 14:00 GMT | Stadium: The Vale |
| 24 January 2026 | Sligo Rovers | 6–0 | Galway United | Westport, County Mayo |
| 14:00 GMT | Stadium: United Park |
| 29 January 2026 | Cork City | 3–1 | Galway United | Ballingarry, County Limerick |
| 13:00 GMT | Crowley 80' Maguire 81' (pen.) Drinan 87' |
Lomboto 54' |
Stadium: Ballingarry AFC Referee: Lucas Keating |
