Conor O'Grady: 'I've a lot to learn and do yet, but I want to climb the ladder someday'

Despite playing several seasons outside of Connacht, the call of home has always been strong for Conor O'Grady.

Currently in charge of Sligo Rovers' under-15’s,  Conor recently sat down with Extratime.ie as he looked back on his decorated career in the League of Ireland and further afield.

During the first stint with his hometown club, they won the 1998 League of Ireland Cup and the young midfielder was also fortunate enough to bag a bronze medal for Ireland at the 1999 UEFA U-18 European Championship, held in Sweden: “I'd played in the qualifiers, but missed out on the original squad for the championships. Then, Shaun Byrne got injured and I got called up. Beating Spain in the first game, with Mr Casillas in goal was a great experience.

“Working with Brian (Kerr) and Noel (O'Reilly), who were ahead of their time, was an eye opener. There was pressure on us after winning it the year before, but coming third with the squad we had was a magnificent achievement.”

After four years at Sligo, O'Grady spent a few seasons at Cork City and one with Derry City before returning to the Showgrounds in 2005; “Liam Murphy and Pat Dolan were great managers at Cork and I played with some talented players. When Gavin Dykes gave me the call, I thought it was the right time to move back home because Derry wasn't too far away. I'd be close to my family, and my girlfriend, who's now my wife was back here as well. I left Cork on good terms and if I had to live in any city, it would be there."

The First Division title coincided with Conor's maiden season back for the Bit O'Red, but at the following season's end, incoming manager Rob McDonald offset those unwilling to sign a full-time contract. However, the midfielder was reinstated come February, becoming the squad's sole part-timer.

“I'd been full-time at Cork and Derry, but was 26, bought a house and got a job. Rob came in and I'd never heard of him. Myself, Sean Flannery and Michael McNamara were working and got released. We were offered contracts, but had to give up our jobs, which we weren't willing to do. I'd just started working in the real world and wasn't giving it up so quickly.

“In hindsight, I should have stayed full-time as long as I could because it's a short career, but the club was different then. I went back because there was a public outcry. The company I worked for were great and said that I could train in the mornings and work afterwards. Michael went on to win Sligo's first Connacht final for 32 years, so it turned out better for him. The manager doing what he did, shouldn't have  happened.”

A low point for O'Grady arrived when as captain, he received an injury time straight red during Sligo's 2009/10 UEFA Europa League exit away to Albanian side Vllaznia; “I'm still suspended in Europe (laughs). We should have won the tie, but blew it at home. We missed a penalty and gave away two goals. They weren't better than us, but inexperience in Europe caught us out. The Albanian trip was great because Paul Cook let my brothers travel on the bus from Croatia. The two lads carried gear into the ground, as if they were on the coaching staff.

Missing out on a 2009 FAI Cup final appearance, Conor led his hometown club to a cup double the following year, including ousting Shamrock Rovers on penalties in the blue-riband decider; “We have an affinity for the cup in Sligo, so it was the stuff of boyhood dreams. The homecoming was more unbelievable than I could ever imagine ... Us players were blown away. It was great for my family also, who are mad into Rovers.”

That was to be the skipper's final outing for his beloved Sligo before signing in early 2011 for Finn Harps, where he lasted less than six months; “I had an ankle problem since 2008. Ignorant like I am sometimes, I didnt get surgery when I should have … I had to at Finn Harps. I wasn't right afterwards or enjoying my football.

“There were also things behind the scenes which shouldn't happen. They reneged on stuff we'd agreed on, so it was time to walk away. Sligo had offered me a part-time contract and Finn Harps, in the First Division, offered five times that. I went there and gave it a go because I wasn't a regular in the Sligo team.”

The subsequent year, O'Grady signed for his last senior team, IFA Premiership newcomers Ballinamallard United; “It's a little village and if you blinked going through, you'd miss it. There were some Sligo lads there and they mentioned me to the manager. They came from the bottom of junior football in Northern Ireland to the top league. The football was more aggressive.

“Some teams played football and others didn't even try. It reminded me of when I started in the League of Ireland. We're way ahead of their game in lots of ways. Lads missing matches to go on holidays, I found strange … It was almost like a hobby for some. The club was unbelievable and even if you lost 5-0, they'd clap you off the pitch. I still look out for their results and plenty of Sligo lads have been there since.”

Since retiring from playing, Conor has managed Castlebar Celtic and now runs Sligo Rovers' under-15s; “I'd like to go on and get all my coaching badges. In Ireland, there's a select amount of opportunities for managers, but I enjoy what I'm doing.

“Mayo have a great league, but I'd already committed to Sligo's underage set-up. It's part-time, so we don't get enough hours with the kids and practice what we're supposed to, but it's giving something back to the club I've supported since I was a boy. I've a lot to learn and do yet, but want to climb the ladder someday.”