Tomás Galvin is a 19-year-old forward currently playing his football for Dungannon Swifts in the NIFL Premiership. The Armagh native enjoyed something of a breakout season during the 2023/24 campaign as he made 34 appearances, finding the net on 10 occasions.
The talented forward could be a key player for The Swifts this season with his powerful engine and ability to use both feet so, there’s better time to take a close look at what makes Tomás Galvin such an exciting prospect for the future.
Player Profile
- Position: Centre Forward / Attacking Mid
- Secondary Position: Right Wing / Left Wing
- Date of Birth: 22/09/2004 (19 Years Old)
- Current Club: Dungannon Swifts
- Preferred Foot: Both
- Height: 182 cm
Formations & Data Analysis
Rodney McAree typically opted to send his team out in a 4–2–3–1 system last season, as per the data viz above. This suits Galvin incredibly well as he can play as a central striker, on either wing or as an attacking midfielder (10).
Galvin would often be deployed as the central striker but have the freedom to drop deeper into that number ten role. We can see that Dungannon Swifts also used a 3–5–2 system during the 2023/24 season. In this formation, Galvin is usually deployed as one of the strikers, often drifting out to the left in build-up play.
The pizza chart allows us to compare Galvin to fellow forwards within the NIFL Premiership last season. We can see the 19-year-old ranked highly for goals per 90, averaging 0.67 per 90 from 0.43 xG per 90. The Dungannon Swifts man also averaged 2.7 shots per 90 showing his willingness to take shots on during the attacking phase. Additionally, Galvin was in the 94th percentile for his shots on target percentage ( 56.3%) indicating that he is capable of consistently hitting the target compared to his peers.
We can see that when it comes to chance creation, Galvin was below average last season, suggesting his primary role within the team is to provide a vital goal threat. Additionally, the pizza chart shows us that Galvin was quite accurate with his passing but less accurate regarding his dribbling, perhaps an area for improvement in the future.
Physical Profile
Standing at 182 cm tall, Galvin is already a commanding physical presence for his team. He is physically strong, generating significant power through his legs which he uses to ground himself when playing with his back to goal and holding off an opponent.
Galvin’s physical development has been influenced by the fact that he has spent several years playing GAA Hurling alongside football. His exposure to high-intensity sports at a young age means that he is much stronger than his peers and understands how to optimise his physical presence in game situations. He holds the ball up very well and possesses an excellent short burst of acceleration which he uses in transitions.
Furthermore, Galvin has a very high level of stamina and is very agile which allows him to twist and turn away from opponents with ease. Coupled with his willingness to use either foot, it can be incredibly difficult for opponents to mark him.
Attacking Phase
During build-up play, Galvin likes to drift out wide, mostly to the left as we can see here. This allows him to potentially drag opposition centre backs out of position, creating space for runners in central areas.
When Galvin drifts wide, he contributes to the team’s width, making it easier to deliver crosses or cutbacks into the box. The 19-year-old averaged 1.28 crosses per 90 last season, with an accuracy rating of 46.7% suggesting that he is capable of playing well-considered crosses into the box. He typically opts for a low drive across the penalty area looking for a midfielder or wide player from the opposite flank to turn it goalwards.
Additionally, Galvin’s propensity for drifting wide helps Dungannon Swifts in counter-attacking situations. The young forward can receive the ball in space, allowing his team to transition quickly and catch the opposition off guard, especially if their fullbacks have pushed on in attack.
In this instance, we can see Galvin making an inverted run from the left wing to latch onto a pass from his teammate. The Swifts forward makes excellent use of his acceleration and off-the-ball movement to make these runs where he cuts across the opposition’s defence and they are often struggling to track him.
He is calm and composed in 1v1 situations which allows him to be incredibly decisive in front of goal. On this occasion, he scores a right-footed shot placed beyond the goalkeeper but he is equally as happy shooting with his left foot, making him a very unpredictable goal threat.
Galvin also looks to make runs in behind the opposition’s defensive line. His speed means that he can stretch the defence and create space for his teammates to push forward. The 19-year-old is often able to find the gaps between the central defenders and fullbacks to run into.
Plus, his ability to use both feet means he can spin either way and still get a shot off. In this example, he runs in behind the defensive line and is able to execute a left-footed shot across goal.
We can see a similar scenario here, this time Galvin uses his first touch to bring the ball under control and then spins away from him before driving forward. Firstly, he possesses a wonderful first touch, which enables him to create space for himself by turning away from the defender.
Galvin’s strength also means that when playing with his back to goal, he can pin and spin his man. Using his first touch to control the ball and then quickly turns away from his opponent. By using his strength and positioning to keep the defender at bay, Galvin can also maintain possession in high-pressure situations, enabling The Swifts to retain control in the final third.
The ability to spin off the defender really adds a dynamic element to Galvin’s play. It allows him to break free and create immediate goal-scoring opportunities. His sudden movement can catch defenders off guard, giving him the space to either shoot or make a decisive pass.
He is a player who is certainly not afraid to run at his man, even when he loses possession, he is not deterred and will always try again. Here, we can see him picking up possession on the left and cutting in. He uses his close control and agility to twist and turn away from his opponent before laying the ball off to a teammate.
Additionally, Galvin’s link-up play is very useful, he is consistently dropping back into deeper areas to connect the play together with deft passes and smart touches.
Here, he drops back into midfield, allowing him to receive a line-breaking pass from his teammate. When receiving the ball, Galvin positions himself optimally by using his body to shield the ball from the opponent and then executing a one-touch pass into the path of his teammate.
After playing the pass, Galvin then turns away from his opponent and puts the after-burners on. We can see here that the movement of his other teammate making a forward run is dragging a defender out of position, creating space centrally.
We can also see that the return pass to Galvin is on as a result of this movement which means Dungannon can play quickly through the middle and use intelligent off-the-ball movement to create space and goal-scoring opportunities.
It is worth pointing out that there are some occasions where he drops so far back, there is no focal point for Dungannon Swifts which makes it difficult to counter.
From an attacking perspective, Tomás Galvin is a well-rounded player. He has the speed and strength to hold up play and make runs in behind in addition to linking up the play intelligently. He has an eye for goal and remains calm and composed when in 1v1 situations with the goalkeeper.
Defensive Phase
The Dungannon Swifts forward does not avoid his defensive duties at all, he leads the press with an impressive level of intensity and commitment. Here, we can see him putting the opposition under pressure as they look to build out of defence.
By applying pressure on opposition defenders, Galvin forces them into making hurried decisions and potentially costly mistakes. This can lead to turnovers in dangerous areas, giving Dungannon opportunities to regain possession close to the opponent’s goal and create quick scoring chances.
This is a very effective strategy for the young forward as he averaged 3.4 recoveries per 90 with 65% of them being in the opposition half.
Additionally, Galvin sets the tone for the entire team’s defensive strategy. His aggressive approach encourages teammates to push up and maintain a compact, high-defensive line. This reduces the space available for the opposition to operate in, making it difficult for them to find passing options and progress the ball through the midfield.
Galvin’s aggressive defending is also on show when he tracks back into the defensive shape. We can see here that as soon as the opportunity arises to put an opponent under pressure, he jumps into action.
When looking to regain possession, he understands how to position himself, ensuring his body is between the opponent and the ball allowing him to recover possession and successfully execute a pass or carry it away himself.
Moreover, Galvin reads the game well and is able to get himself into optimal positions to make interceptions, as we can see here. Last season, the 19-year-old averaged 2.64 interceptions per 90 demonstrating his ability to disrupt the opposition’s build-up play.
By cutting out passes, Galvin can prevent the opposition from progressing the ball out of their defensive zone, forcing them to play more cautiously and reducing their attacking threat.
Additionally, he can relieve defensive pressure on his own team. By breaking up the opposition’s play early, Galvin reduces the burden on the midfield and defence, helping the team maintain a more balanced shape and conserve energy.
This proactive defensive work is very effective and can prevent the opposition from gaining momentum and establishing control of the game.
Although he predominantly stays on his feet, preferring to use his body orientation and strength to outmuscle opponents, Galvin does not shy away from a tackle, as we can see here. Whilst he is a very aggressive player, this is usually well controlled and on the rare occasion he does go to ground, it is well-considered meaning he does not make wild or dangerous tackles.
In terms of his defensive work, he is tenacious, aggressive and intelligent regarding his positioning. Overall he demonstrates a great willingness to do the hard graft and due to his high levels of stamina, he is more than capable of sustaining a high level of intensity over 90 minutes.
Transitions
Here we can see how effective Galvin is in the attacking transition. He doesn’t always look to make runs in behind, preferring to link the play as demonstrated here. On this occasion, his strength proves to be incredibly important as he uses it to hold off the defender once he has brought the ball under control.
With a good eye for a pass, Galvin sees the run of his teammates and plays a perfectly weighted pass into his path, putting him through 1v1 with the ‘keeper.
In the defensive transition, Galvin’s tenacious nature shines through as he loves to put the opposition under pressure to force errors high up the pitch. He is very adept at recognising pressing triggers such as back passes and very quickly moves to put the pressure on.
We can see here that as soon as his team loses possession, Galvin’s instinct is to press, not only to force errors but to try and limit the opposition’s ability to launch a counterattack of their own.
Conclusion
Overall, Tomás Galvin is a very talented player, he is an intelligent attacking threat who could easily play as a 9 or a 10 depending on what suited the team. He loves to roam and manages to operate well in tight spaces, linking up play with deft passes.
He works hard defensively and brings a fantastic level of intensity to proceedings. Additionally, Galvin is capable of leading the team in the press, using his intelligence to identify pressing triggers to keep the opponents under pressure.
As for the next steps, possibly a move to a bigger team within Northern Ireland might suit his development or a move to Scottish football which is a highly utilised pathway for players in the NIFL.
Here is a pizza chart with Galvin’s stats weighted (using Opta power rankings) to analyse how he compares to EFL League 2 forwards. He is clearly an attacking threat whilst he struggles regarding his dribbling and passing success rates.
I think he is certainly a player who could potentially play at EFL League Two or League One level in the future but I do think he requires more development before this can happen.
In short, he is a very good player who is one to watch out for in the future and further proof why the NIFL is a league to follow to find some very exciting prospects breaking through.
Originally published at https://bethlimb.substack.com.
