Connor is relieved to have tough few weeks behind him

Date Published: {J}

 CIARAN TIERNEY

IT is a measure of the seismic changes which have taken place at Galway United over the past couple of seasons that the team which travels to take on Ian Foster’s Dundalk at Oriel Park tonight (7.45 p.m.) is likely to feature only one survivor from Foster’s spell in charge of the club.

Alan Murphy has recovered from a long-term injury and the returning Sean Kelly will also have a place on the bench, but Paul Sinnott could be the only player from Foster’s 2009 side to start on the pitch this evening.

There have been two mass clearouts of players since Foster left for Dundalk at the end of the ’09 campaign, claiming that he had a right to walk out because he was owed money. Sean Connor then became the Galway club’s fifth manager in less than two years.Former Dundalk boss Connor has been no stranger to turmoil since then, with the club coming back from the threat of relegation – due to licensing difficulties – just two weeks before the start of the new season.

He faced a manic dash to cobble a squad together before the 3-0 home defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic last Friday and gave six players their debuts in that opening game. The Galway manager has admitted it has been his toughest ever pre-season as a manager. 

By way of contrast, Dundalk have already played four competitive games, including a morale-boosting Setanta Cup victory over Linfield over two legs. They may have gone down 3-1 to defending champions Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght last Friday, but Foster’s preparations have been a breeze compared to what Connor has had to endure. He also has a budget which is four times bigger than that of his successor at Terryland.

And yet Connor is optimistic for this visit to his former club. The healthy crowd of over 1,500 last weekend showed that supporters are returning to United, the club is now being run by the supporters themselves, and there was an undoubted ‘feel good’ factor at Terryland after all the woes of the past few seasons.“Realistically, Dundalk are four or five weeks ahead of us in terms of their preparations,” said Connor yesterday. “They have two of the best strikers in the league and are going to be a strong team this year, in contention for honours. But I have never conceded a game in my life before the kick-off.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.