Phil Trill ‘proud’ of Julie-Ann Russell’s impressive impact for Ireland

“She is a high-level operator and an amazing person who has had a major impact on us” – Phil Trill, manager of Galway United senior women’s team

While the Galway United men’s team heard the final whistle sound out in Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday, nearly 900km away – a member of the Galway United women’s team put her name into the history books.

In Norwich’s Carrow Road, Moycullen native Julie-Ann Russell would have felt the cheers from around the west as she put the ball in the England net during Republic of Ireland’s 2-1 defeat to the reigning European champions.

Capped 60 times by her country, Russell had not featured for the Girls in Green since 2020, as she earned a call-up from Irish boss Eileen Gleeson for this month’s Euro 2025 qualifiers following her fine form in a maroon jersey.

The 33-year-old demonstrated her goalscoring instincts to find the net late on against Sarina Wiegman’s outfit before she was rewarded with a start against France in Cork’s Páirc Uí Chaoimh four days later.

She would go on to do the same against ‘Les Bleus’ when she scored yet again, this time a sensational finish into the top corner, to receive the Player of the Match award for her goal and assist which helped Ireland to a famous 3-1 victory over a side ranked second in the world.

Russell, who is the club’s only senior Irish international while currently playing with Galway United, is also a sibling of Sligo Rovers men’s manager, John – a team that the Tribesmen play next in the Premier Division following Friday’s FAI Cup encounter against Longford Town.

The attacker, who was out of the game on maternity leave when her daughter Rosie was born, has played a starring role for Phil Trill’s team this season – scooping the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division Player of the Month award in March while hitting a hat trick in the same month against Cork City.

Speaking after Julie-Ann Russell’s inspiring impact in a green jersey, United manager Trill said:

“In general, Julie-Ann is an icon. To do what she is doing at the moment is a path that not many have walked.

“We take great pride in what she has done for her country this month and we are still on a high from watching her performance in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

“She is a high-level operator and an amazing person who has had a major impact on us – helping the culture of the group, our intensity and style of play. It is a privilege to work with her every day.”

25 May 2024; Galway United manager Phil Trill before the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division match between Shamrock Rovers and Galway United at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Watch Russell and her teammates next Wednesday, July 24, when Galway United take on Wexford FC in the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup Semi-Final (7.45pm KO). Tickets are available HERE.