Sports
Connacht rugby still in shock after Lam decides to leave at end of season
THE last time Pat Lam left a high-profile rugby job, the circumstances were very different. Sacked by the Auckland Blues in 2012 after winning just four out of 16 games, the Samoan’s coaching career had hit rock-bottom.
The criticism in New Zealand was rough and he suffered “racial abuse”. Worse still, his rugby life was encroaching on his family’s private life: his four-year-old daughter one day opened the door to television cameras and a media pack thirsty for headlines.
The fact he was jobless for seven months, and had five children and his wife, Steph, to support, made it easier to lure him to the West of Ireland.
The philosophy and foundation laid by Eric Elwood at the club encouraged him to move to Galway but providing for his family was equally as important. He went from zero to hero in four years.
Now he’s leaving Connacht Rugby early after an unprecedented successful stint but motivations are the same: Bristol’s rugby ambitions chime with his values and vision; and they have the cash that will allow him to secure his family’s future.
Lam is no mercenary but, of course, the money helps. He has reportedly signed a contract with Bristol worth between €500,000 and €750,000 annually, which would make him one of the highest paid coaches in the Northern Hemisphere, even greater than most international coaches.
“I’ve never ever been about money,” insisted Lam, flanked by Connacht CEO Willie Ruane and full back Tiernan O’Halloran at Wednesday’s press conference in which he explained in detail why he has chosen to trigger the get-out clause in his five-year contract and move to the struggling Southwest of England club at the end of the 2016/2017.
“The offer allows me to look after my family, and to continue in a coaching environment very similar to Connacht and that inspires me,” he said.
Lam revealed that he had been head-hunted by another club last year but he turned down the offer because he felt he wouldn’t be able to look Elwood, and others, in the eye if he had left after just three seasons.
Much has changed in the interim. Lam guided Connacht to win its first ever trophy, and in some style, with an historic PRO 12 final victory last season. Before he arrived, the province had never finished higher than seventh in the league.
Waving a copy of Connacht’s ‘Vision and Strategy’ document, which he developed with other key figures in Connacht, Lam said he was leaving long-term structures in place that will outstay him.
On Monday, after dropping the bombshell to his management and players, Lam had a private meeting with hooker Tom McCartney, whom he worked with in Auckland and persuaded to come to Galway.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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