Dunne looking to put the ‘divil’ back in Galway soccer

Speaking at the launch of the new club on Monday night, the Dublin native (41) said he always enjoyed his trips as a player to what was then known as Terryland Park during a playing career that features stints with Home Farm, Dundalk, Shelbourne, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Kildare County, but says some visits were memorable for all the wrong reasons.

“It is a fantastic ground, I would have played there in years gone by, and it is a wonderful surface. I got a few hard knocks in my time from the likes of Mark Herrick,” he joked, “and I am hoping to get that back, to get that bit of ‘divil’ in the team.”

Dunne confirmed he had drawn up a list of about 30 players who he wanted to speak to, and by Monday had already met with about half of that group.

“I am looking to put a big group together – obviously that will be whittled down for a league squad, but I wanted to speak to each player and get a feel for them and just see where players stand,” he explained.

He has made his first appointment to his backroom team, bringing in Sports Science Fitness expert Adrian Craddock, but he said he is in no rush to appoint an assistant manager, and may actually decide to steer clear of such an appointment.

“For me, the important thing is the coaching aspect, that is the priority. I haven’t decided on whether I will bring in an assistant, I might be more inclined to bring in a coach or two to work with the players, as that might be more beneficial to the squad,” he explained.

Dunne took over as Cork City manager in 2010, and led the club to sixth in the First Division in his first season in charge, before taking the First Division title the following season by a single point from Shelbourne, but he is warning against expectations of such a meteoric jump to the Premier Division with Galway FC.

“It will be very, very tough. We are starting from scratch, and will be in a very competitive First Division. There will be tough days ahead, make no mistake about that, and we will have to work extremely hard. We are already behind the other teams in terms of training, so we have a lot to do,” he said.

He said that, with the new club – and the sponsorship deal that the Comer Group has committed to for the next three seasons – expectations are high, but he said that while the excitement was understandable, people had to be realistic about the season ahead.

“To be honest, Mervue and Salthill didn’t have that big expectation attached to them, though Mervue did very well in the 2013 season. Now, that expectation is there, we will have to cope and deal with it, but people have to be realistic.

“Momentum is hugely important in this game, and if you can get off to a positive start, and get a good run going, that’s half the battle – look what Mervue achieved this season, they got some momentum, went on a great run and made it to the First Division play-off. That is what momentum can do for you,” he said.

He also urged the people of Galway to get behind the new side, saying the supporters would be crucial to the success of Galway FC in the coming season, both on and off the pitch.

“There are some very passionate people involved with Galway FC, and there was always a great support for Galway United. We will try to prepare properly and be right and ready for the start of the season, and hopefully the fans will get behind us,” he said.

For more on this story, check out today's copy of the Galway City Tribune.