Noel Mernagh has strong links to the evolution of Galway United! His uncle Josie McDermott, one of a quartet of famous Galway footballers encouraged him to join Galway Rovers u-10's. The other three (Paddy, Richard & Tommy) all played their part in developing Galway soccer and were instrumental in the foundation of Galway Rovers in 1937! But pressure was brought to bear on young Noel and the call to represent his beloved West United was too great. So he switched to West and played under age there until the opportunity came to join Galway Rovers in the League of Ireland. "John Herrick wanted Stephen Lally and me to sign in 1981 but we were having a great season winning the Connacht Cup at Minor and Junior level so I didn't actually sign until the following season under Paddy Mulligan." At West Noel had been guided at under age level by Michael O'Connor, Peter Mernagh and Eamon Howley. While during his appearances on the Galway Town team John Tierney and Joe Keating looked after him.

Noel was involved in all of Galway United's winning cup and league teams to date winning 2 League Cup medals, 2 First Division Shields, an FAI Cup and a First Division title as well as playing in all three European excursions, twice in the Cup Winners Cup and once in the U.E.F.A. Cup. In the early days he played alongside many locals as the team reached the 1985 FAI Cup Final and were runners up in the League in 1986. ‘Chick' Deacy, Tommy Lally, Kevin Cassidy and Gerry Daly were some of the players the young footballer looked up to as he and Stephen Lally came through the under age teams together at West United and into the League of Ireland with Galway. From 1982-89 he lined out mainly in midfield but also up front and at times even at full-back! "You played where you were needed," he modestly adds. He returned to play junior football for the 1989-90 season with West United but was persuaded to rejoin ‘The Tribesmen' the following season helping Galway to win the FAI Cup. In 1993-94 playing mainly out of Crowley Park, Noel experienced a terrific season with Galway finishing 3rd in the league. "We had a great team that year. Among others we had players like Gerry Mullan, Mark Herrick, Olly Neary, Donie Farragher, Derek Rogers, Kevin Cassidy and John Mannion. The whole squad was very good but after that season the team broke up and I often felt that if Galway United could have kept that squad together we would have done very well!" Three of that team Ricky O'Flaherty, Peter Carpenter and Noel joined up with another ‘Galway Old Boy' Johnny Glynn to guide St.Pats to the League Title in 1996. Noel was Pat's Player of the year that season! "I played midfield with Eddie Gormley and he was a terrific player. We were minutes away from doing the double but we were caught by a late equaliser and lost the replay. I came back to Galway United in 1996 and was Assistant-Manager firstly under Denis Clarke and then Don O'Riordan as well as playing until 1999. It was tough going, working all week and then going up at weekends to play for Pats so when I got the chance I came back." The Galway native has actually worked at O' Halloran's Joinery since 1979 so it's no wonder that he spent virtually his whole senior career with his local team. However he did return to coach West United in 1999 but after ending his playing career with a broken leg he has drifted away from the game.                                                                                   

Noel and Stephen Lally; a long-term team-mate at West United and Galway United; went to Leeds United for a trial in 1982. Leeds were in the old Second Division and the two starry eyed youngsters got to train with Denis Irwin, Terry Phelan, John Sheridan and Scott Sellars. "Leeds still had some great players and it was a great buzz for me as a life-long supporter. Eddie Gray was manager, and his brother Frankie was playing  too." Unfortunately times were tight at Leeds and they weren't gambling on young players, so Leeds loss became Galway United's gain! Naturally as a fellow believer we got talking about the robberies that Leeds suffered in the 1973 Cup Winners Cup Final v A.C. Milan and the infamous European Cup Final against Bayern Munich in 1975. As we parted having blasted bad and treacherous refereeing for costing ‘our other favourite team' those trophies and many more we looked forward to their clash with Galway United in July. Noel Mernagh won all the domestic medals in his career and very few players spent as long or worked as hard in the maroon shirt. What a pity that he never had the opportunity to play full-time and that over the years he like many great Galway players had to move on to further their careers. Looking at the set up today Noel feels that the structures are being built for future success. "Whenever we had a good team in the past we found it hard to keep the players and I reckon with the current set-up we are more geared to do so. There are good structures in place and it would be great to see a successful Galway side again." On that optimistic note I bid farewell to the ‘Man from the West.'  

- Mike Geraghty        http://www.mgwords.com/