Forty five years ago this week, St. Michael's Football Club was founded. Initially it was a dual club which played hurling as well, but within a few years, it had become solely a football organisation.

Galway Corporation had started to build houses in the Shantalla area in 1943 and as the population grew, it provided players for this club. They also drew in footballers from The West and The Claddagh.

Among the founders were Pa Boyle, John Duignan, Mick O'Toole, Sergeant McNalty and Mick Higgins. The first AGM was held in Tom Connollys house in Lower Shantalla Road in January of 1957, which was the year the club took to the fields of action for the first time.

They met with some early successes, winning three county minor titles in a row from 1958-1960. Three players, Henry Anderson, Andy Donnelly and Sean Callaghan were on the Galway Minor Team which won the All-Ireland in 1960. The first player from St. Michaels to play senior football (and hurling) for Galway was Paddy Ryan in 1962, while Tom Corbett and Peter Folan also played with the county later that year. In 1970, Joe Corcoran was selected as captain of the Galway Minor Team which won the All-Ireland, and a huge crowd turned out when he and the team brought the cup back to the city.

There have been many other highlights in the club history since, and to celebrate their achievements, we have for you today the senior team of 1972.

Back row (L. to R.) Liam Cunningham, Martin Vaughan, Joe Ryan, Martin Noonan, Michael Duignan, Frank Dooley, Eddie Caulfield

Front row (L. to R.) Paddy Grant, Gerry Dooley, Tom Corcoran, Joe Corcoran, Michael Corbett, Frank O'Connor, Gerry M. Dooley, Tom Nally.

Go maire sibh an chéad, St. Micheals