City clubs in upbeat mood for new AIL campaign

FOR Galway City’s AIL clubs, Galwegians and Corinthians, it’s ‘come the day, come the hour’ as they kick off their Ulster Bank Division 1B League campaigns against Dublin University and Ballymena respectively this Saturday (both 2:30pm).

Newly promoted Galwegians, managed by Barney Moran and under the tuition of head coach Matt Browne and assistant coach John Muldoon, host Dublin University – a side which will look to avoid the fate they had to endure on the opening day of last season when they were hammered 25-7 at home by Corinthians.

Moran says his outfit has been preparing well under Brown, who took over from his namesake Corey Brown this season, and Connacht captain Muldoon. “In fairness, John (Muldoon) was there last year with Corey Brown,” says Moran.

“Corey is not around this season due to other commitments and we got in Matt Brown. He has fitted in very well and he is building on what John and Corey worked on last year. So, certainly they are working very closely together and things have been going well.”

Heading into Saturday’s fixture against Dublin University – and, indeed, the season ahead – Moran is optimistic. “We are going well at the minute. Training has been going well. Hopefully, we can have a good season and build on last year’s.

“Definitely, I can’t see why we can’t be optimistic, especially after what we achieved last year (topped the Division 2A table). If we build on last year and work hard – or harder than last year – we can’t see why we won’t be pushing,” said the manager.

Captained this year by Jarlath Naughton, among the new faces to join the Galwegians set-up this year are former Dunmore captain Martin Cummins – who played underage at the club – and Ballyhaunis full-back John Pierre Jefferies.  However, they have lost players, including Eoin Rooney, Dan McCabe and Dave Nolan.

Meanwhile, Corinthians – under Head Coach Pat Cunningham, who was assistant to Phil Pretorius last season – travel to Ballymena to a face a side that makes its return to Division 1B after being demoted from this tier at the end of their 2012/13 campaign.

Captained by outside centre James Buckley, Corinthians have added a host of new faces to their squad including New Zealand out-half Nathan Langsford, centre Charlie Ryan, winger Darren Griffin, loosehead prop Jamie Dever, dead-ball kicker Phillip Maher and Headford native Alan Bane.

“Preparations have been very good, excellent actually,” states Head Coach Cunningham, who will be looking to improve on Corinthians fourth place finish last term. “We have a very good squad, having added a few players to it this season.”

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