Fitzmaurice finalises coaching team in Galway, new U-20 manager to be appointed

Lisa Fallon will be joined by Kevin Johnson, David Morris, Gareth Bradshaw and Gary O'Donnell

NEW Galway senior football manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice's coaching team is set to include Lisa Fallon, David Morris, Gareth Bradshaw, Gary O'Donnell and U-20 boss Kevin Johnson.

The former All-Ireland winning Kerry bainisteoir was appointed early this month on a three-year term and returns to top-level management for the first time since 2018.

Fitzmaurice's backroom will be drawn from both inside and outside the county with Dublin native Lisa Fallon, who is set to fill the role of lead coach, the most eye-catching inclusion.

A holder of soccer's highest coaching qualification, the UEFA Pro Licence, Fallon's CV includes roles as head coach of Galway United and Cork City men's first teams under John Caulfield, as well as London City Lionesses in the women's game in England.

Fallon worked as an analyst with Northern Ireland in Michael O'Neill's tenure and alongside former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger as a FIFA global development advisor.

In GAA, Fallon's most high-profile experience came when part of Jim Gavin's management in Dublin which delivered an historic five All-Irelands in-a-row.

Kevin Johnson's inclusion on the ticket means that the Galway U-20 manager position has become vacant. The Claregalway clubman was expected to continue in that role for a second season in 2027. His replacement will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Johnson won Galway Senior Football Championships in 2023 and '24 during his spell in charge of Corofin. His involvement in a coaching capacity with Leitrim Gaels in '25 added to a growing CV that included senior titles as manager of Ballintubber in Mayo in 2018 and '19, plus Tourlestrane's success in his native Sligo in '21.

David Morris provides continuity from the outgoing management team having been a coach in the last two seasons of Padraic Joyce's tenure in 2025 and '26. Previously, he was integral to his native Corofin's extraordinary success that delivered All-Ireland club titles in 2015, '18, '19 and '20.

Former Galway players Gary O'Donnell and Gareth Bradshaw, who were both involved with county underage teams in recent seasons, will also be part of Fitzmaurice's management.

O'Donnell retired from inter-county football in 2021 after 13 seasons in maroon and white. He captained Galway to Connacht success in 2016 and continues to play for his club Tuam Stars. His coaching experience with Galway came as part of Neil McHugh's minor management in 2024 and '25.

Like O'Donnell, Bradshaw gave lengthy service in the county's half-back line. The Maigh Cuilinn man called time after 14 years with the county's flagship football team in 2020 and helped his club to their first-ever Frank Fox Cup. Bradshaw was a coach-selector in Derek Savage's spell as Galway U-20 boss in 2024 and '25.