Big boost for United as key players stay for long haul

Talking Sport with Stephen Glennon

IF Galway United supporters are looking for signs that next season can be even better than this one – in which they have all but secured their Premier Division status – then the re-signing of influential duo Ryan Connolly and Colm Horgan for the 2016 campaign should provide the perfect fillip.

As the ink was drying on his new contract, Connolly met up with Talking Sport to reflect on a season that has all but seen them remain a Premier Division team following their promotion from the First Division last season. It’s an important step on what has often been a difficult road for a rejuvenated club.

There had been some interest from other clubs in Connolly, the club’s inaugural Tommy Keane Player of the Year last season and one of three Galway United players named on the 2014 First Division Team of the Year along with Colm Horgan and Paddy Barrett (now Dundalk), but his decision to stay at United is a huge vote of confidence for all concerned.

Given his pedigree, you would wonder was the Mayo native, one of only a few full-time professionals at United, given assurances that the squad would be strengthened further in 2016. “No, not at all,” stated Connolly. “Tommy (Dunne) has always said – and we would be of a similar mindset – that we need to build on this season.

“I also know he is not the type of manager who will be happy with just staying up. He is always trying to improve things but it is difficult. It is a difficult situation because any player who does well in the league this year will have the bigger clubs looking for them while the Dublin teams have the pick of what’s up there.”

For Galway United’s part, they have lost some superb players to their more affluent rivals in recent years while others when they returned from plying their trade in the UK, like former Arsenal youths player and Falkirk midfielder Stephen O’Donnell, have been snapped up by the top clubs.

It has left United fans pondering what would their local outfit be like if a magic wand could be waved and all of these were back home in the dressing rooms of Eamon Deacy Park again. “I can understand that,” admitted Connolly, “and you would look at it yourself and think what if? The money being offered, there is no comparison.

“In Dundalk, you have the likes of Stephen O’Donnell, Daryl Horgan and Gary Rogers who played with Galway and they are big players in the league. I just don’t think Galway would have a budget to sign three or four of those players back again. At least not yet. I have played with Daryl and Gary and I would love to have them back again.”

For more read this week’s Galway City Tribune.