The 2020 Galway United F.C. season was the football club's 42nd season in the League of Ireland and their third consecutive season in the League of Ireland First Division since being relegated in 2017.

The 2020 season was truncated as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, with the league season be reduced from 27 games to 18 games and with all of the games after the league came back on 31 July taking place behind closed doors. The 2020 FAI Cup was also delayed and played with less teams than normal. The 2020 League of Ireland Cup was cancelled completely.

During the season club legend and manager of the previous two years Alan Murphy, was sacked following a run of 8 winless games in the league. He would go on to be replaced by former Premier Division winning manager John Caulfield.

The club finished the season in 5th, qualifying for the play-offs where they would defeat Bray Wanderers in the semi-final, before losing 1–2 to Longford Town in the final.

Squad # Name Nationality Position Date of birth (age) Previous Club Signed Notes Goalkeepers 1 Kevin Horgan GK Shamrock Rovers 2019 16 Micheál Schlingermann GK Sligo Rovers 2020 22 Cian Mulryan GK Mervue United 2019 22 Matthew Connor GK Waterford 2020 Defenders 2 Jack Lynch DF Regional United 2019 3 Marc Ludden DF Mervue United 2014 Vice-captain 4 Joshua Smith DF Finn Harps 2020 5 Killian Brouder DF Limerick 2019 6 Maurice Nugent DF Mervue United 2017 18 Kevin Farragher DF Drogheda United 2020 21 Christopher Horgan DF Salthill Devon 2018 23 Timo Parthoens DF HIFK 2020 26 Cian Murphy DF St. Mary's 2019 Midfielders 7 Timmy Molloy MF Salthill Devon 2020 8 Shane Duggan MF Waterford 2020 Captain 10 Conor Barry MF Athlone Town 2017 11 Shane Doherty MF Rowan 2019 12 Stephen Christopher MF Cobh Ramblers 2019 13 Conor Melody MF Salthill Devon 2015 15 Donal Higgins MF Maree Oranmore 2018 17 Caoilfhionn O’Dea MF Newmarket Celtic 2019 20 Jack O'Connor MF Sligo Rovers 2020 24 Joe Collins MF West United 2019 25 Carlton Ubaezuonu MF Longford Town 2020 27 Sam Warde MF Sligo Rovers 2020 Forwards 9 Mikey Place FW Finn Harps 2020 14 Enda Curran FW Mervue United 2020 19 Francely Lomboto FW Galway Hibernians 2020 28 Wilson Waweru FW Academy 2018 29 Vinny Faherty FW PAEEK 2019 Players who departed before the end of the season 11 Dean O'Halloran MF Waterford 2020 17 Alberto Cabanyes MF Spoltore Calcio 2020 19 Dylan Sacramento MF Valour FC 2020

In Date Position Nationality Name Last club Ref.10 November 2019MFShane Duggan Waterford6 December 2019FWMikey Place Finn Harps12 December 2019MFJack O'Connor Sligo RoversMFDean O'Halloran Waterford14 December 2019GKMicheál Schlingermann Sligo Rovers17 December 2019DFJoshua Smith Finn Harps20 December 2019MFCarlton Ubaezuonu Longford Town7 January 2020DFTimo Parthoens HIFKMFAlberto Cabanyes Spoltore Calcio9 January 2020MFTimmy Molloy Salthill Devon26 January 2020DFKevin Farragher Drogheda UnitedMFDylan Sacramento Valour FC1 February 2020MFSam Warde Sligo RoversFWEnda Curran Mervue United8 August 2020GKMatthew Connor Waterford

Out Date Position Nationality Name To Ref.FWConor Layng Pike Rovers16 January 2020MFRonan Asgari Athlone TownMFJoshua Keane QuinlivanDFAdam Rooney20 January 2020MFMark Hannon Ballinamallard United30 July 2020MFDylan SacramentoRetired11 September 2020MFAlberto Cabanyes UD Ourense

Club Coaching staff Alan Murphy (until 18 August) Manager: Alan Murphy Assistant Manager: Colin Fortune First Team Coach: Kevin Murphy First Team Coach: Keith McTigue First Team Coach: Danny Broderick First Team Coach: Iarfhlaith Davoren Goalkeeping Coach: Gianluca Aimi Strength and Conditioning Coach: David Mannion Physiotherapist: Ronan Coyle Head of Physical Performance: Brian McMorrow

John Caulfield (from 20 August) Manager: John Caulfield Assistant Manager: Colin Fortune First Team Coach: Johnny Glynn First Team Coach: Liam Kearney Goalkeeping Coach: Gianluca Aimi Physiotherapist: Aidan Slattery

Competitions League of Ireland First Division

Going into the season all teams were meant to play each other 3 times throughout the season, meaning that each team would play 27 games. However, after the league season was postponed as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, the format changed to each team only playing each other twice leading to an 18-game season.

League Table

Results summary

Matches

Play-offs After the final day of the season on 27 October, Galway United found themselves in 6th, one spot away from the play-offs. However, on October 29, an appeal by Wexford led to 4 of their games which had previously been awarded top their opponents as 3–0 wins to be overturned. This caused Cabinteely to drop from 5th to 7th, which meant Galway United took their spot in the play-offs.

Semi-final

Final

FAI Cup

As the season being stopped and truncated took place before the FAI Cup began, the entire format of the competition was changed from the start. Only the League of Ireland clubs took part in the competition that year, because of this only 19 teams took part meaning that many teams, including Galway United, were given a bye into the second round.

Second Round

League of Ireland Cup

Unlike the other competitions which were truncated and played behind closed doors, the 2020 League of Ireland Cup was cancelled entirely. So in spite Galway United winning their first round match, they did not advance to the second round as no such round took place.

First Round

Friendlies

Pre-season Friendlies

Mid-season Friendlies

Statistics Appearances and goals This table shows all of the players who have featured in a first team squad for Galway United this season Brackets denotes how many of the listed appearances were made as a substitute

No. Pos. Player League FAI Cup LOI Cup Play-offs Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 GK Kevin Horgan130000000130 2 DF Jack Lynch15(1)0000020170 3 DF Marc Ludden1321(1)01020172 4 DF Joshua Smith2000000020 5 DF Killian Brouder15(2)0100021181 6 DF Maurice Nugent14(4)0101020180 7 MF Timmy Molloy13(7)0001020160 8 MF Shane Duggan162101020202 9 FW Mikey Place14(1)311002(1)0174 10 MF Conor Barry15(7)11(1)0001(1)0171 11 MF Dean O'Halloran2000000020 11 MF Shane Doherty12(1)0100020150 12 MF Stephen Christopher17(5)3000010183 13 MF Conor Melody2(2)000000020 14 FW Enda Curran11(2)3110020144 15 MF Donal Higgins10(4)0101000120 16 GK Micheál Schlingermann3000102060 17 MF Alberto Cabanyes0000110011 17 MF Caoilfhionn O’Dea1(1)000000010 18 DF Kevin Farragher10(1)1101000121 19 MF Dylan Sacramento0000100010 19 FW Francely Lomboto9(8)200001(1)0102 20 MF Jack O'Connor00001(1)00010 21 DF Christopher Horgan7(2)0100000140 22 GK Cian Mulryan0000000000 22 GK Matthew Connor3(1)010000040 23 DF Timo Parthoens40101(1)00060 24 MF Joe Collins1000000010 25 MF Carlton Ubaezuonu14(11)41(1)0001(1)0164 26 DF Cian Murphy4000100050 27 MF Sam Warde120000020140 28 FW Wilson Waweru10(7)200112(2)1134 29 FW Vinny Faherty12(9)21(1)01(1)01(1)0152

Clean sheets Player League FAI Cup LOI Cup Play-offs Total 1 Kevin Horgan40004 16 Micheál Schlingermann10113 22 Matthew Connor20002

Disciplinary record No. Player League FAI Cup LOI Cup Play-offs Total 8Shane Duggan4011000000005019Mikey Place40100000010050111Shane Doherty50000000000050012Stephen Christopher20100000010030114Enda Curran40000000000040023Timo Parthoens3000001000004006Maurice Nugent2001000000003002Jack Lynch2000000000002003Marc Ludden1100000000001105Killian Brouder10010000000020018Kevin Farragher10000010000020026Cian Murphy10000010000020010Conor Barry10000000000010019Francely Lomboto10000000000010021Christopher Horgan10000000000010024Joe Collins10000000000010027Sam Warde10000000000010029Vinny Faherty100000000000100Totals36133003002004413

Notes

References