Lally appointed Galway United manager

Stephen Lally has been appointed manager of Galway United in succession to Tony Mannion who has moved upstairs to the role of general manager and director of football.

Former Galway United player Lally worked as Mannion’s assistant last season and hopes that the transition will be as painless as possible as the club look to continue their development both on and off the field.

Lally spent 14 years at Galway between 1983 and 1997 winning a FAI Cup medal, a First Division medal and two League Cup medals, before moving on to Athlone Town and Mervue United where he gained his first experience of management before returning to Galway last season.

Mannion moves to his new role after three and a half seasons as manager of Galway in which the club were unlucky not to gain promotion to the Premier Division in 2003 when they lost the play-off final to Drogheda United.