Cunningham ready to roll for a second stint with Utd

PADRAIC Cunningham is back for a second spell at Galway United with one thing on his mind – promotion back to the Premier Division.

The Headford native (24), whose first spell at United saw him play 83 games over four seasons, was the first player signed by John Caulfield for the 2021 season, but he is reading nothing of any significance into that, saying the two had been talking last season.

“I would have had a few conversations with John when he took over at United last season, but with Covid-19 and everything else, nothing came of it, but I certainly liked what I heard at the time, and I liked it even more when he spoke to me about this season,” says the man best-known as Podge, a nickname he picked up at Mervue United, where he got his first taste of national competition when representing the Fahy’s Field club in the U19 League of Ireland.

It was from Mervue United that he made the move to Galway United, joining the club for its return to the League of Ireland in 2014 after a two-year absence.

“Tommy Dunne brought me in and I will always be very grateful to him for that opportunity. He took a chance on a young lad, I was 17 when I joined the club, and I loved my time playing for him. He was a great manager, a great man, and I owe him a lot,” says Cunningham of a man who led United to promotion at the first time of asking.

Dunne had joined United in November 2013, having been sacked by Cork City three months earlier. In a neat piece of symmetry, the man who replaced Dunne was John Caulfield, who went on to become City’s most successful manager, and Cunningham is hoping that Caulfield can weave his magic at Eamonn Deacy Park as well.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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