Galway confident of Premier Division reprieve

GALWAY UNITED have formally appealed their denial of a league licence and have expressed confidence they will continue to play Premier Division football at Terryland Park.

The FAI have confirmed that the club’s appeal against the decision — which would see them drop from the Premier Division to the A Championship — will be heard tomorrow morning.

If Galway United fail in their bid to regain their top-flight clearance, then their place for the 2011 campaign will be taken by Monaghan United, who have already expressed their readiness to seize an opportunity which had seemed to pass them by in heartbreaking fashion when they lost their play-off game with Bray Wanderers in a penalty shoot-out at the end of last season.

As they monitor developments, the Galway United Supporters’ Trust (GUST) will elect a new management committee and recruit volunteers at an EGM at Terryland Park this evening (7.30pm). All supporters are invited to attend.

Meanwhile, the scattering of the ashes of Sporting Fingal continues with midfielder Shane McFaul having signed for St Patrick’s Athletic.

“I’m a local lad from Cherry Orchard who grew up supporting Pats and going to games so I’m absolutely delighted to have signed,” he said. “I was under contract at Fingal for another season and was shocked at what happened but when we were released, it was a matter of moving on quickly. I’ve always wanted to play for Pats so I didn’t think twice when Pete Mahon approached me and my mind was made up straight away.”

Said manager Mahon: “Shane is a player who I’ve known for a long time and as a midfielder he’s top class. We’re trying to bring in a certain type of player with good technical ability. He’s top of the tree in that department.”