by Daire Walsh
Wed, Jul 13 2011
Sean Connor troubled by Galway’s woes
Galway United’s troubles continued in Dalymount Park last Friday, when they suffered their 16th straight league defeat following goals by Christy Fagan and Killian Brennan. It was a game performance from The Tribesmen, especially when you consider that five of their squad had departed the club in the week leading up to the game, which meant they could only name three substitutes on the night.
Speaking after the game Galway supremo Sean Connor gave an insight into the problems that the club is facing at present, though he still has a clear vision of what he has to do as the manager of Galway.
“It’s very difficult, because this week you’ve watched five really good players leave the football club. The harsh reality of Galway is that there’s a legacy of historic debt, and it needs to be addressed. The people who run the football club have had to make decisions, and they obviously want to ensure that Galway United survives. I want to make sure we survive as a Premiership club, and I think, between the two of us, that’s what we are working to do”, Connor commented.
“As I said, it has been a difficult week, a difficult five or six weeks, but I think the boys gave a performance that is full of endeavour. Lacking a bit of quality that is going to break teams down, but I think coming here tonight, winning or losing wasn’t going to make any difference. We still need to beat Drogheda, who we have to play twice, and we have to pick up some other points along the way”. One of the younger member of the squad who stepped in and produced a commendable display was rookie goalkeeper Conor Winn, who denied the Bohs attack on a number of occasions. Connor was extremely pleased with his performance on the day, though he was also quick to praise those who have just left his squad.
“He (Conor Winn) did very well. He’s worked well under the others. I have to thank the pros that have left the football club, I think they’ve all gone on to good clubs. (Shaun) Maher and Shaun Kelly have gone to Limerick, Karl Moore looks like he is going to go to Yeovil, there has been interest from Pat’s and Derry for him. Greg Fleming is over at Bradford City. So all the players have gone to decent clubs, and they’re good players. I think that maybe if we had a bit of luck, like two more wins, then maybe it could have been different”.
As a man who has enjoyed spells coaching Sligo Rovers, Bohemians themselves, and Dundalk in the past, one might begin to wonder if Connor might consider his current position. However, Connor was quick to dismiss any notion that he might be questioning his future, and revealed that he intends to honour the three-year contract that he signed back in January 2010.
“No, I can’t (question my own future). I signed on here for three years. I always knew it was going to be difficult, maybe not this difficult. I enjoy the coaching, I enjoy working with the players, and hopefully Galway United will still be here next year, and we’ll be working hard to do whatever is required, but hopefully it will be in the Premier League”.
Connor is clearly not someone who is ready to give up without a fight and, as long as it is mathematically possible to stay up, he is going to do everything within his power to deliver for the Terryland Park-outfit.
“The whole aim is to keep Galway United as an entity going, and my focus is to keep it going in the Premier Division. Until that’s mathematically impossible, I’ll keep going, and it’s not mathematically impossible at the moment. As I say, we’ve two massive cup games against Drogheda. Either one of us, Drogheda or ourselves, have to pick up points along the way. If it comes down to goal difference, we’re snookered, because I can’t see us scoring 20 or 30 goals”, Connor added.