Conan Byrne - A Sporting View
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Hello everyone. I hope you have all had a good break and are all recharged and ready to go. It’s actually my birthday this week and even though I’m a little bit older I’m sure I’m no wiser! Again feel free to drop me a line or ask me anything at the bottom.
I have to say that our performance against Finn Harps was very poor. We didn’t have the cutting edge that’s required to win games at this level. We created some chances but once again a couple of mistakes let us down. We looked lethargic throughout but in fairness to Finn Harps they put it up to us and it seemed that like they wanted it more on the day. James Gallagher has done a very good job since he took over but we were really disappointed to let three points slip away from us.
Its crucial now against Monaghan that we get three points before we go into the Shels game but no one is looking that far ahead yet. Friday night is very important but we have some players back from suspension and injury so were all excited.
In my opinion it’s becoming harder to break down some of the so-called “smaller teams” as the season develops. It’s not that these teams are getting ten men behind the ball but I think that opposition players really raise their game when they see that they are playing against us. In fairness the emphasis is on us to break them down but I think that some team’s work that little bit harder, close down quicker and don’t give us as much time on the ball as they would with other teams.
Paulyg was asking about why I seem to have improved in front of goal this season and in fairness mate it’s hard to put my finger on. I’m very happy with my return of 11 goals so far. I set myself a target at the start of the season to get ten in all competitions so that’s gone. I do stay behind after training to work on my shooting and that definitely has helped. I still have improvements to make, I mean my heading ability is known all around Ireland but trust me it’s getting better!
I haven’t really seen anyone with any strange pre match rituals before games in fairness. For a while, I used to bless myself at the corner flag in remembrance of my grandfather who died but I haven’t done that as much recently. Of course all the lads play music in the dressing room before the match and a fair few listen to their Ipod’s…they probably don’t agree with what’s being played over the speakers! Some of the lads also have a few weird habits like wearing the same shorts while some others don’t wash their boots.
I have to say on a personal note I’m a bit jealous of Shamrock Rovers bringing Real Madrid to Tallaght but it’s a tremendous achievement for them. I wish them all the best with it and hopefully it will be positive for the league as a whole. Maybe it can get the armchair fans into the ground and create a bit more interest in the League of Ireland. The match should be televised because it is a big event and the league needs as much exposure as possible.
Getting arguably the biggest club in the world over to these shores is a real success story for the domestic game. I have to say it’s nice to have a positive story doing the rounds for once. A lot of people seem to focus on the negatives surrounding the League of Ireland but there have been some real positives. Even in the first division there are success stories. Wexford Youths seem to be going from strength to strength and Finn Harps are bringing in some very good local lads into their first team. These success stories need to be talked about more in my opinion.
Every time you hear a story about the League of Ireland more than likely it’s all doom and gloom. Obviously no one can turn a blind eye to the financial mismanagement of the clubs and it is a really worrying time but clubs still have to get fans into the ground. Here’s hoping people will start talking about what’s going on in the pitch rather than the boardrooms.
Of course the transfer window is now wide open and I’m sure a lot of people have been linked with us. We said it last year that before the window opened we went on a run of 6 games unbeaten. When we did bring players in during it our form really dropped! I think that once some of our injured players get back to fitness, the likes of Gary O’Neill and Stephen Paisley; it will be like having new signings because the lads have had really bad luck with injury. I’m sure that if Liam thinks he needs a few more signings then they would be more than welcome. You need competition for place in clubs like Sporting Fingal and I’m sure we will see some new faces coming in. Just wait and see.
On a totally different topic the Sporting Fingal Africa project is going great. We’re doing a raffle now after each home game with a few good prizes on offer and it’s all going to a good cause. I’m organising a race night at Harolds Cross in a bid to raise 10,000 for the trip. The kids that are going to Zambia are working really hard right now. They’re bag packing in the local shops and its going great so far but still a long way to go.
All the Best
Conan
I have to say that our performance against Finn Harps was very poor. We didn’t have the cutting edge that’s required to win games at this level. We created some chances but once again a couple of mistakes let us down. We looked lethargic throughout but in fairness to Finn Harps they put it up to us and it seemed that like they wanted it more on the day. James Gallagher has done a very good job since he took over but we were really disappointed to let three points slip away from us.
Its crucial now against Monaghan that we get three points before we go into the Shels game but no one is looking that far ahead yet. Friday night is very important but we have some players back from suspension and injury so were all excited.
In my opinion it’s becoming harder to break down some of the so-called “smaller teams” as the season develops. It’s not that these teams are getting ten men behind the ball but I think that opposition players really raise their game when they see that they are playing against us. In fairness the emphasis is on us to break them down but I think that some team’s work that little bit harder, close down quicker and don’t give us as much time on the ball as they would with other teams.
Paulyg was asking about why I seem to have improved in front of goal this season and in fairness mate it’s hard to put my finger on. I’m very happy with my return of 11 goals so far. I set myself a target at the start of the season to get ten in all competitions so that’s gone. I do stay behind after training to work on my shooting and that definitely has helped. I still have improvements to make, I mean my heading ability is known all around Ireland but trust me it’s getting better!
I haven’t really seen anyone with any strange pre match rituals before games in fairness. For a while, I used to bless myself at the corner flag in remembrance of my grandfather who died but I haven’t done that as much recently. Of course all the lads play music in the dressing room before the match and a fair few listen to their Ipod’s…they probably don’t agree with what’s being played over the speakers! Some of the lads also have a few weird habits like wearing the same shorts while some others don’t wash their boots.
I have to say on a personal note I’m a bit jealous of Shamrock Rovers bringing Real Madrid to Tallaght but it’s a tremendous achievement for them. I wish them all the best with it and hopefully it will be positive for the league as a whole. Maybe it can get the armchair fans into the ground and create a bit more interest in the League of Ireland. The match should be televised because it is a big event and the league needs as much exposure as possible.
Getting arguably the biggest club in the world over to these shores is a real success story for the domestic game. I have to say it’s nice to have a positive story doing the rounds for once. A lot of people seem to focus on the negatives surrounding the League of Ireland but there have been some real positives. Even in the first division there are success stories. Wexford Youths seem to be going from strength to strength and Finn Harps are bringing in some very good local lads into their first team. These success stories need to be talked about more in my opinion.
Every time you hear a story about the League of Ireland more than likely it’s all doom and gloom. Obviously no one can turn a blind eye to the financial mismanagement of the clubs and it is a really worrying time but clubs still have to get fans into the ground. Here’s hoping people will start talking about what’s going on in the pitch rather than the boardrooms.
Of course the transfer window is now wide open and I’m sure a lot of people have been linked with us. We said it last year that before the window opened we went on a run of 6 games unbeaten. When we did bring players in during it our form really dropped! I think that once some of our injured players get back to fitness, the likes of Gary O’Neill and Stephen Paisley; it will be like having new signings because the lads have had really bad luck with injury. I’m sure that if Liam thinks he needs a few more signings then they would be more than welcome. You need competition for place in clubs like Sporting Fingal and I’m sure we will see some new faces coming in. Just wait and see.
On a totally different topic the Sporting Fingal Africa project is going great. We’re doing a raffle now after each home game with a few good prizes on offer and it’s all going to a good cause. I’m organising a race night at Harolds Cross in a bid to raise 10,000 for the trip. The kids that are going to Zambia are working really hard right now. They’re bag packing in the local shops and its going great so far but still a long way to go.
All the Best
Conan
