Bradley is bullish ahead of team's big European tie

Dara Bradley

TOWARDS the end of Tuesday’s press conference to promote Connacht’s season-defining Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final clash with Bourgoin at the Sportsground on Saturday (1pm), Connacht Coach Michael Bradley, a Cork man, quipped to a local photographer, “How do you think Cork (hurlers) will get on (against Galway) in the League final?”

“Ah, I’m just focused on Saturday’s game!” was the reply. Earlier, when Bradley was asked what difference the early kick-off would have on preparations, a mischievous captain John Muldoon piped up and said: “I’ll have to go to bed earlier!”

They were light hearted exchanges that highlighted the sort of confident – almost giddy and excited – mood Connacht are in following Good Friday’s win over Edinburgh and their recent string of top class performances in both Magners League and European Cup action, particularly at home.

Earlier on in the briefing, Bradley, who is in his last season, revealed he believes the Connacht squad have never been in better shape in the seven years he has been at the helm.

Urging supporters to be vocal at what is expected to be a sell-out tie, Bradley said he is confident that if the Connacht players perform like he knows they can this weekend, then they can win the quarter-final, and secure a home semi-final.

“We’ve a great opportunity to do it in front of our own fans. We’re going into this match in a very positive frame of mind, confident that we have the ability ... this is the strongest we’ve been in the period I’ve been here,” he said.

“We have to get the crowd to come and support us. We need the Sportsground to be full to capacity and we need them to be making an awful lot of noise. We need to push home that potential advantage and that may be the difference for us in the match. I know coaches say that on a regular basis but the crowd has been a huge plus for us.  

“Last week against Edinburgh, two weeks ago against the Dragons and in all our Amlin Challenge Cup matches, the crowd have been very strong, vocal and knowledgeable. It’s very important that we get a carnival atmosphere, with everyone rowing in behind the side because the challenge is going to be massive for us. It’s a bit of a step up for us, we haven’t had a home quarter-final in a long time so in that sense there is a bit of pressure on us, we are aware of that but there’s also a lot of confidence in the side,” he said.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.