O'Grady ready for Harps challenge
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Finn Harps’ new signing Conor O’Grady hopes his experience can rub off on his new teammates when the First Division season gets underway.
Although only 30 years of age, the former Sligo Rovers captain will enter his 14th season in senior football. Harps manager James Gallagher finally got his man on Sunday when the sales rep signed the dotted line.
“James has been in contact with me since late November and I had kept him in mind,” midfielder O’Grady said this week.
“I didn’t want to jump into anything and wanted to see how things developed with Sligo. I wanted to stay there, and waited for an offer, but I felt the offer when I got it was more of one they felt they had to becuase of my years of service.
“After keeping my options open, I spoke to James again and signed for Harps on Sunday. I also would know Anthony Gorman so am happy to have got things sorted now.
“I am looking forward to getting matches played. We’ve done a lot of running and endurance work and that in pre-season, but it’s matches that really make a difference to your fitness.” Harps opened their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Sligo at Stranorlar’s Finn Valley Centre on Saturday. O’Grady is expected to feature for the first time this Sunday when another of his former clubs, Derry City, come to the Twin Towns.
“Some of the lads are very young and I saw them arriving at training in school uniforms,” O’Grady continued. “But I remember that was my own case and I hope that I can rub off some of my experience. The young lads might even revitalise the older ones - myself and Kevin McHugh were laughing at that the last day.
“Having looked at the lads playing I think there is a good squad of players here at Harps. I have only played one season in the First Division in my time and that was in 2005 when Sligo won it. “This season is likely to be a tough one too as there are a lot of good teams in the division now, but it’s a case of so far so good at Harps and are we’re looking forward to it.”
Although only 30 years of age, the former Sligo Rovers captain will enter his 14th season in senior football. Harps manager James Gallagher finally got his man on Sunday when the sales rep signed the dotted line.
“James has been in contact with me since late November and I had kept him in mind,” midfielder O’Grady said this week.
“I didn’t want to jump into anything and wanted to see how things developed with Sligo. I wanted to stay there, and waited for an offer, but I felt the offer when I got it was more of one they felt they had to becuase of my years of service.
“After keeping my options open, I spoke to James again and signed for Harps on Sunday. I also would know Anthony Gorman so am happy to have got things sorted now.
“I am looking forward to getting matches played. We’ve done a lot of running and endurance work and that in pre-season, but it’s matches that really make a difference to your fitness.” Harps opened their pre-season with a 1-1 draw against Sligo at Stranorlar’s Finn Valley Centre on Saturday. O’Grady is expected to feature for the first time this Sunday when another of his former clubs, Derry City, come to the Twin Towns.
“Some of the lads are very young and I saw them arriving at training in school uniforms,” O’Grady continued. “But I remember that was my own case and I hope that I can rub off some of my experience. The young lads might even revitalise the older ones - myself and Kevin McHugh were laughing at that the last day.
“Having looked at the lads playing I think there is a good squad of players here at Harps. I have only played one season in the First Division in my time and that was in 2005 when Sligo won it. “This season is likely to be a tough one too as there are a lot of good teams in the division now, but it’s a case of so far so good at Harps and are we’re looking forward to it.”
