Connacht would have better opportunity in the Amlin Cup

Inside Track with John McIntyre

ON the surface, virtually everything is falling into place for Connacht rugby next season. With new Head Coach Pat Lam already in situ at the Sportsgrounds, former New Zealand U20 captain Jake Heenan winging his way West and a third consecutive Heineken Cup campaign looming, the province’s flagship team is unrecognisable in almost every positive sense compared to just a decade ago.

With vastly improved facilities at the College Road venue, season ticket sales surging, a continuing enhanced profile and increased competitiveness on the playing field, the Connacht brand is now well established and they are undoubtedly the ‘in team’ when it comes to attracting support on the terraces in Galway. To be honest, I never thought we’d see the day when people wearing Connacht jerseys would be a familiar sight around town, particularly in the lead up to match days.

The night-time action at the Sportsground, during the winter months especially, provides a compelling atmosphere and local heroes like John Muldoon, Tiernan O’Halloran, Eoin Griffin and Robbie Henshaw have developed a passionate following similar to that of Joe Canning with the Galway hurlers. Connacht have admirably worked hard, on and off the field, from humble beginnings to establish themselves as a force in the professional era.

With what at times still appears begrudging and qualified financial support from the IRFU, Connacht have made such significant strides against the odds that the team has really cornered the city sporting fan base, a scenario which will make it even more difficult for any version of the proposed new Galway United soccer outfit to attract decent crowds to Deacy Park if, and when, the club finally gets back into the League of Ireland

With one of the three French rugby giants, new Heineken Cup champions, Toulon, Clermont or Toulouse, bound for Galway next season in Europe’s premier club competition, the hype about Connacht is going to be at least maintained in the short to medium term. The sport has never been more popular locally as underlined by the sight of seemingly hundreds of juveniles going through their paces at Corinthian Park and in Galwegians on Saturday mornings.

Furthermore, in another endorsement of what is happening at the Sportsground, scrum half Kieran Marmion and full back Henshaw have been recently called up to the Irish squad for the summer tour of the USA and Canada, while Eoin McKeon, Griffin and O’Halloran have been included in the Emerging Ireland squad which will compete in the upcoming Tbilisi Cup in Georgia. Ireland’s international coaches can no longer be accused of ignoring emerging talent in the West.

The departure of indigenous heroes, Eric Elwood and Johnny O’Connor, may rob Connacht of two of its greatest ever servants and most familiar faces going forward, but CEO Tom Sears and his staff have already kicked on. Lam has a strong and experienced coaching pedigree and the Kiwi’s arrival is bound to give the existing squad of players a fresh impetus. He will bring his own tactical style and the fact that individuals will have to prove their worth to Lam should ensure some vigorous performances during the early part of the new Head Coach’s tenure.

But there is a rider to all of this positive commentary – Connacht will again be playing in the wrong European competition. Sure, all the glamour is associated with the Heineken Cup, the capacity of the Sportsground will be tested next season and the players would naturally want to be participating against Europe’s top teams but, on all known form, they haven’t a prayer of reaching the knock-out stages.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.