Galway GAA goalkeeper Gleeson signs for Galway United

Galway United have signed the county's Gaelic football goalkeeper Connor Gleeson on a short-term contract.

The Tribesmen have been dealt a setback by the surprise departure of Evan Watts, with parent club Swansea recalling the netminder from a season-long loan spell.

Watts has been one of United’s leading performers this season and his exit brings a real headache for manager John Caulfield.

The first move has been to add Gleeson to the squad, who featured for United last in 2018, on a temporary basis.

The netminder saw his inter-county GAA season finish last week, with Caulfield quick to move to bring him to Eamonn Deacy Park.

Number two goalkeeper Hugo Pires De Cunha has yet to feature since signing at the start of this season but is likely to get the nod for Friday’s away game with St Patrick’s Athletic.

Defender Arthur Parker has completed his loan spell from the Swans, which is another setback for United who had been hoping to extend it.

Leigh Kavanagh has headed west from Bohemians on a loan switch for the rest of the campaign.

The move mirrors Cian Byrne’s spell with Galway last year, with the defender becoming more established at Dalymount Park since.

Kavanagh has made 40 first-team appearances for Bohs since joining from Brighton in July 2024, scoring twice.

Manager Alan Reynolds: "Leigh is a very talented young player with great potential and a bright future ahead of him. He’s still only 22 years of age but already has plenty of experience.

"We want him to build on that now. He hasn’t had as many opportunities this season as he would like as it is a competitive position for us.

"But we only have to look at the experience of Cian Byrne going out on loan to Galway last season to see how a run of first-team games can really benefit young players in their development.

"That’s exactly what Leigh needs right now and spending time in a new environment and a different set-up, and getting a run of games under his belt, should really stand to him and his development. We wish him and Galway all the very best for the rest of the season."

The League of Ireland transfer window officially opened this morning.

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