(Photo – Galway United)
Winger Gary Shanahan has become the latest player to sign a new contract for Galway United ahead of the 2018 SSE Airtiricity League First Division.
The 24-year-old Limerick native signed at the start of the 2014 season having previously impressed under Johnny Glynn at Mervue United scoring 10 goals as they finished third in the 2013 First Division.
Previously, he played for Dundalk under Sean McCaffrey scoring five goals for the Lilywhites and has been a proficient tallisman for the Tribesmen hitting 18 goals in 137 appearances.
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He was involved in Galway United’s promotion to the top flight in 2014 scoring a goal in the play-off against UCD and was an ever present in their 2015 campaign as well as lining out 36 times the following season.
And under Shane Keegan, he played 31 times in 2017 getting two goals and his form will be instrumental if Galway United want to make a quick return to the Premier Division.
“Gary will be one of the most experienced players in next season’s squad and he’s probably close to reaching cult hero status with the club,” said Keegan to Galway United’s official webisite. “He’s Galway United through and through, despite not having been born here. I think it could be a huge season for him.
“He played a major role in the club’s last promotion from the First Division and I think with the experience he has accrued over the last few years, he will do that and more next season.
“He is another player that wouldn’t have played as much as he would have liked last season, whereas next season in all likelihood, he will be looking to be one of the first names on the team sheet. He’ll absolutely relish that and it will bring the best out of him.
“That kind of experience is invaluable. He’s quite similar to Marc Ludden in many respects and is almost a right-footed version of him. We’ve had a bit of a chat and we could possibly tinker with Gary’s position next season to make the most of his attributes.”
MANAGER QUOTE 🗣️ | High praise from Shane Keegan for a player who he feels will play a key role for United in the 2018 @SSEAirtricityLg season. #GUFC pic.twitter.com/Fu8nLmNSgE
— Galway United (@GalwayUnitedFC) December 23, 2017
That brings to eight players that Keegan has confirmed for the year ahead after Eoin McCormack, Ryan Connolly, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry, Aaron Conway, Maurice Nugent and Gary Kinneen also inked pen to paper.
