written for the Galway United March 2026 Match Programme
The 80’s brought us iconic cultural landmarks such as E.T., U2, Back to the Future, Michael Jackson, Ghostbusters, Live Aid, The Commitments, Madonna. While Diego Maradona’s Hand of God is one of the most notable sporting events of that decade, the 1985/1986 League of Ireland Premier Division season is etched in eternal history for Galway United enthusiasts, and one which defined a generation as the Tribesman achieved their highest-ever league finish, attained European football qualification, and were crowned champions of the League of Ireland Cup following victory over Dundalk at Tolka Park.
The season commenced in October 1985 and Galway started like a house on fire, a 2-1 victory away to UCD kicking off a 5-game winning streak and what would evolve into a record 16-match unbeaten league run as Tony Mannion’s side soared up the table to become league leaders by the end of February.
Paul O’Brien is a lifelong Galway United supporter and recalls attending games as a then 16-year-old, the majority of which took place on a Sunday afternoon given that there very few evening games during Winter at that time.
“Back then only three grounds in the country had floodlights, so games would be on a Sunday afternoon as the days were so short. We’d have huge crowds turning up on a Sunday at the old Terryland Park.”
Paul “Ski” McGee was United’s star striker in those days, an Ireland international whose career saw him travel to England, Canada and the Netherlands turning out for clubs including QPR, Burnley, Preston North End, Kidderminster Harriers, HFC Haarlem and multiple stints throughout the League of Ireland. Though it took place 40 years ago this year, McGee remembers a Galway side that was full of confidence and quality all over the pitch heading into that record-breaking season.
“We started the season well. We were full of confidence, a very strong side and you could see how good some of the lads were in training as well – Dennis Bonner, Kevin Cassidy, guys who could really dictate the game. Our back four were good, the midfield were strong and then we had strikers who could score goals too..it was brilliant.”
Score goals they did, including McGee who went on to finish top scorer for Galway with 13 goals in 22 games, second only to Limerick’s Tommy Gaynor who ended the season on 15. The Sligo native recalls an excellent atmosphere at Terryland Park week in week out, as well as a fantastic team spirit across the team and club officials.
“With the Sunday kick-off, people were off work and had plenty of time to come see us before and after the game, we had match sponsors who would put on food and drink afterwards, it was great craic and fantastically well organised for us.”
That 16-game unbeaten run meant that the Tribesmen were surprise title contenders heading into the business end of the season, and by the time they were down to face Shamrock Rovers at home the game effectively had become a top-of-table clash in Terryland. Despite United’s fine form and having drawn the reverse fixture 2-2 away in Glenmalure Park, the Hoops proved too strong for Mannion’s side on the day, a 3-1 defeat bringing their unbeaten run to an end and ultimately handing the title to Shamrock Rovers with Galway going onto suffer subsequent defeats at home to Bohemians and away to Dundalk.
O’Brien recalls: “That game against Rovers was huge. Back then there were no seats in Terryland, no scoreboard, no facilities, just the pitch with a fence around it. They put up a temporary stand, I think it was scaffolding and planks of wood..but there was a huge crowd there, well over 5,000 people.”
He recounts how although the Shamrock Rovers defeat was in effect a league decider in the end, the game against Bohemians was also a crushing blow having been rearranged for the Wednesday after that defeat to Rovers, something which McGee also echoes as not being ideal for him and his teammates.
“It was a hassle having to play that postponed Bohs game on the Wednesday, maybe that was a mistake..that ultimately cost us the league as we lost both games and Rovers went on to win it.”
It was not all doom and gloom for that Galway side, a second-place finish to this day remains our highest-ever finish in the League of Ireland and though they missed out on league silverware, there was still the matter of the League of Ireland Cup as McGee and his teammates reached the final against Dundalk in a game that took place on January 15th, 1986.
O’Brien says: “I remember travelling up on the supporters bus at 16, the game was originally meant to be two legs but the first one got rained off, so it was decided there would be one leg in a neutral ground – Tolka Park. We played them off the park, a 2-0 win, then I remember stopping off in a hotel on O’Connell Street to celebrate with the team.”
McGee was one of the goalscorers at Tolka Park that day along with Dennis Bonner, brother of Ireland goalkeeping legend Packie. He remembers that goal like it was yesterday, and how it felt to get his hands on a trophy with Galway United that season.
“I remember that goal, the ball was played into the edge of the box and I managed to dummy my man and stick it in the far corner. Then Dennis, nine times out of ten he would come up for a corner and head it in the net, and that’s what he did. It was great to get our hands on a trophy, especially looking back now having gone so far in the league.”
Premier Division runners-up, a League of Ireland Cup trophy, UEFA Cup qualification (which we will cover in a later version of Maroon View) – it’s fair to say that 1985/1986 was an incredible season for Galway United, a memory etched in time and a moment that still lives on over four decades later.
Paul Madden 