Lisa Fallon set to join Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Galway as coach

UEFA Pro Licence holder Lisa Fallon is set to join Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Galway as their new coach.

UEFA Pro Licence holder Lisa Fallon is set to join Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Galway as their new coach.

The former Galway United manager will be part of the Kerry All-Ireland winner’s new backroom team for 2027. Also understood to be on the ticket are Corofin’s Dave Morris, Tuam’s Gary O’Donnell, Maigh Cuilinn’s Gareth Bradshaw, as well as current U20 manager Kevin Johnston.

Fallon is a renowned coach and analyst with a highly impressive CV. She previously coached Chelsea Women and Cork City, and worked with the Dublin football panel under Jim Gavin.

She left Galway United in 2021 to take up a role in FIFA’s High Performance Department. She was a recent guest speaker at ATU Galway's 'Designing Lightbulb Moments' Masterclass.

Fallon also worked with Michael O’Neill in Northern Ireland and was part of his coaching ticket when they qualified for the European Championships in 2016.

Fallon is not the first woman to work with a senior men’s team. Áine Kinsella broke new ground when she was appointed as a team coach with Wexford under manager John Hegarty. Denise Martin, Louise Byrne and Emma Byrne have also worked with senior sides as analysts.

Kevin Johnson led the Galway U20s to the Connacht U20 semi-final last year, having previously won back-to-back Galway SFC titles with Corofin in 2023 and 2024. He was previously involved in county championship successes with Ballintubber in County Mayo, Tourlestrane in Sligo and Leitrim Gaels in Leitrim.

Morris was a central figure in the great Corofin side that won All-Ireland club titles in 2015, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

O’Donnell retired from inter-county football in 2021 after 13 years with Galway. The former captain still plays for his club, Tuam Stars, and was previously involved with the county minors as a coach.

Bradshaw retired at the end of the 2020 campaign, having won three Connacht titles during his playing career. He was also a key figure in Maigh Cuilinn’s 2020 Galway SFC success.

The combination of a highly qualified coach and local up-and-coming figures should prove popular with supporters out west. Since his appointment on a three-year term, Fitzmaurice has been meeting players and has attended the recent county semi-finals.

Maigh Cuilinn and Salthill Knocknacarra will face off in the decider at Pearse Stadium on Saturday, October 24.