Éamonn Fitzmaurice confirmed for three-year term as Galway boss, Fallon and O'Sullivan on board too

Soccer and basketball twist to exciting Galway set up, with Lisa Fallon and Ballincollig's Ciarán O'Sullivan on the ticket too.

CONFIRMED: New Galway senior football manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice. Pic: James Crombie, Inpho

Éamonn Fitzmaurice has committed to a three-year term as Galway football manager, his appointment and management team formally ratified at a County Board meeting Monday night.

The appointment of coach Lisa Fallon and assistant coach Ciarán O'Sullivan, both revealed by Examiner Sport, were also confirmed along with Kevin Johnson, Gareth Bradshaw, Gary O’Donnell and Dave Morris.

UEFA Pro Licence holder Fallon is an interesting appointment, having worked with Galway United, Cork City and Chelsea. She was also assisting Jim Gavin's Dublin in 2018, when they won the All-Ireland title.

Ballincollig head coach O'Sullivan takes his first step into the inter-county scene but he has already been involved at local level with football teams, and has been linked with other inter-county roles before Fitzmaurice moved for him. 

O'Sullivan spoke with the new Galway manager last month about his role and his hectic schedule, with international and Super League coaching responsibilities. 

“He knew of my commitments as head coach of Ballincollig’s Super League team and assistant coach to the Irish senior men’s team, so I wanted to be certain I could give the Galway senior footballers the time it needs," O'Sullivan told The Echo.

“I worked through the logistics at home with my wife and with everyone involved, and once that was sorted the decision was straightforward. “This is a great opportunity to learn for me. What struck me most in my conversations with Éamonn was how clear he is on the way he wants Galway to play, and how open he is to ideas from other sports.

“He’s assembled a strong management group, and there’s a very talented group of players to work with. A lot of football knowledge sits in that group, and I’ll be learning from it as much as contributing to it.

O'Sullivan explained: “Until the basketball season finishes in April, it’s one session a week, and after that the Galway role becomes much closer to full-time, ahead of the Connacht Championship. I’ve gone through the calendars with everyone involved and there are no clashes.

“I will be giving a basketball perspective on one-on-one defending and transition. In basketball, you spend a huge amount of time coaching how to defend the space, how to react in the seconds after a turnover, and how to get the team organised quickly, in both directions. Gaelic football is moving that way, with more emphasis on those moments in games.

“I’m not here to reinvent anything or tell footballers how to play their game. I’ll work to what Éamonn wants and fit in with the rest of the management team, and if the players find some of those ideas useful, that’s what I’m there for.”

Wth Kevin Johnson stepping away from his role as Galway Under-20 football manager to support Fitzmaurice, Galway has confirmed Donal Ó Fátharta as the new U20 manager for a two-year term. 

He will be joined by Kieran Fitzgerald, Cormac Bane, Mike Comer and Brian O’Donoghue as part of his backroom team.

Dave Morris, who was part of Padraic Joyce's management group, will remain with Fitzmaurice's senior set-up alongside former players Gareth Bradshaw and Gary O'Donnell.