Galway United have been crowned 2023 First Division Champions after victory tonight against Kerry FC in Mounthawk Park.

Goals in either half set the Champions on their way. An Aouachria header just before the half hour mark put the away side in front before David Hurley eliminated any final nerves from the spot. Lomboto added the third on the cake late in the game, poking home from closer range. David Hurley swung in a corner that found it’s way in right at the death.

The Tribesmen return to the top flight for the 2024 season, ending a seven year wait for Premier Division football in Eamonn Deacy Park for the men's side.

The opening phases of the match had that big game cageyness to it that we often associate with finals, Galway knowing what is at stake tonight and playing safe as they got the nerves out of their system.

It was the away side who manufactured the first major effort of the game, McCarthy picking up the ball on the left hand side, jinking between two Kerry men before unleashing a right footed effort that flashed just wide of the post.

Galway came to life after that great piece of individual play, and began to pile the pressure on the home side, and the dam was broken just before the half hour mark.

Kerry goalkeeper Axworthy’s poor clearance left Ethan Kos a tough job to deny McCormack which he did successfully with a last ditch tackle but could not prevent the corner. David Hurley went out to the right hand side and swung in an inviting ball which striker Wassim Aouachria rose highest to, heading into the side netting across goal.

With the lead in hand, the Tribesmen began to play with the confidence and flow that has brought them to this point so far this season, but did not find a second before the break, in fact Leo Gaxha right on the stroke of half time had a chance to equalise but couldn’t get a shot off, colliding with Clarke in the United net before he could.

Stephen Walsh was left head in hands ten minutes after the break as he somehow did not put his side two to the good, but all plaudits would go to Kerry netminder Lee Axworthy who somehow managed to leap across and claw the almost certain headed effort from going over the line.

Moments later Kerry broke and almost forced an unlikely equaliser. It always looked like the home side's best opportunity to get a goal would be on the break, and it was just that with second half sub Gleeson crossing towards the back post finding full back Sean O’Connell who was denied from close range by Clarke down to his right.

Galway United did get their second goal with just over fifteen minutes on the clock. Lomboto was hauled down by Aladesanusi, leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. The ever reliable David Hurley stepped up and slotted home bottom right, sending the keeper the wrong way, as the title celebrations began to start.

Sub Lomboto made it 3-0 just a few minutes from time, poking home from close range after the ball broke his way kindly.

The final stages of the game were serenaded by the strong travelling support who could finally celebrate the confirmation of their league title with five games to spare. Galway were not done though as David Hurley swung in a corner right at the death to add the icing on a superb cake.

Kerry did produce a valiant defensive performance, but had very little luck going forward against a very strong Galway United team, that they will certainly be glad to see the back of for a while.

Both these teams begin planning to face Finn Harps, with United returning to Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday night, inviting the Donegal side down for their title party, as Kerry make the long trip to Ballybofey next Friday night.

A superb night for the Tribesmen, a small example of an impressive season which saw them eliminate the ghosts of previous years which denied them, as the side lead by Caufield and Horgan produced incredible consistency and quality to lead their side back to the top tier, and repay the investment in the club over the past few years in the best way possible.