With relegation to the First Division for the 2018 season confirmed on the final day of the season, Galway United will find themselves turning to youth in their quest to return to the top flight.
Manager Shane Keegan, if he remains in the post, said as much in his after-match comments. He expects to lose many of his more experienced players including the likes of club captain Colm Horgan, who today signed for Champions Cork City, Ronan Murray, Rory Hale, Gavan Holohan and maybe Stephen Folan.
However Keegan feels that if he can hold on to the remaining members of the squad and include some of the clubs U-19’s they can challenge for promotion. One of those U-19’s is striker Declan Sharkey.
Sharkey was part of the United first-team squad this season, making the bench on 6 occasions, and he also made his first-team debut in the EA Sports Cup clash with the Mayo League, a game Galway won 2-0.
He said he was thrilled to make his debut, “Yeah it was good to get a run out that night.
Game time was limited this year with United’s struggles in the league and he was disappointed, but he’s looking forward, “Yeah it was a shame I didn’t get some more game time but next season will be a big one for me and hopefully I can push on.”
Sharkey has represented the Isle of Man Internationally and is the brother of Sligo Rovers defender Seamus and he said he’s been enjoying his time playing full-time football this year.
We asked him how he would describe himself as a player, “I’m a player that likes going forward, either setting up or scoring goals,” and goals is something he’s managed to do, scoring 9 in 12 games.
He was coached by former United player Nigel Keady this season and Sharkey said, “Nigel was a great coach, he just told me to go and express myself and show people what I could do.”
Like most players in the League of Ireland he finds himself out of contract, but it’s likely that he will be back at the club next season. He said, “I have no contract with anyone for next season so will just have to see in the next while and see what happens.”
He’s a very humble young man, as when asked what his footballing ambitions were he just simply said, “Ambitions would be to work hard at my game and just see how far I can get.”
2018 will be a big year from the youngster.
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