Connor remains determined despite defeat
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Galway United manager Sean Connor watched his side slump to their 22nd defeat of the season tonight when they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Derry City at Terryland Park. Despite their horrendous run of form in the league this season, Connor found comfort in the performance of his players in this game, especially the second-half.
"I thought in the second-half for thirty minutes, we dominated the game. We just lacked that killer instinct. Two or three balls have gone across the box that probably a more natural poacher would put in, but we worked hard. Because, I think, we'd been so dominant our concentration at the back had probably gone a wee bit. To be fair, they've had two good chances and a penalty kick and they've taken [them]. But we didn't feel sorry for ourselves, I thought the boys' application and effort was good and they kept battling and working really hard. If we keep fighting like that we'll pick up points and we'll stop the rot sooner rather than later."
Answering a question about his defenders' apparent new-found willingness to attack the ball, the Galway boss was in firm agreement.
"Yes! And we have Yob Son who certainly will attack the ball, and maybe even the man on occasions", said Connor. "I think we've a bit more aggression, and what that's done is allow me to play Paul Sinnott in the middle of the park and that seems to have given him a new lease of life because his defensive qualities are helping us in there. I think, unfortunately, that all goals tonight came down the wings, but we haven't been cut open down the middle. Effort wise though I can't fault them and as I say, maybe over the 90 minutes their [Derry's] wee bits of individual quality has helped them to win the game."
New signing Lawrence Gaughan didn't have the best of starts to his career at Terryland, but his manager admits it was something of a baptism of fire for the youngster.
"I was just saying there about Lawrence, you know, he's disappointed with his performance tonight and I know he's a better player than that and so does he. But to make your debut against Derry; against Zayed and the boy McEleney, there was good movement up there and a lot of confidence."
With the dust barely settled on this latest defeat, Galway's gaze will now turn to next week's clash with Bray, who slipped to defeat against second-from-bottom Drogheda. Connor insists it will be a different Bray side when he takes his team to the Carlisle Grounds, but is hopeful of another good Galway performance.
"As soon as the game is over my focus has to go on next week. I'll go home and I'll watch the DVD of that game tonight and we'll talk with the players individually about wee mistakes and we'll work on that early in the week and then we're focussed. Bray had four players suspended tonight, you know, and we'll go next week and they'll have those four players back and be galvanised, so it'll be a tough game. But certainly if we perform like that, and can even get a bit more out of them, then we've every opportunity."
On a more personal note, Connor brushed off any idea that he was upset by a protest during the game from a section of the Galway support. A group of fans in the far stand chanted 'We want Connor out!' throughout the game and even unfurled a banner bearing the same message. But Connor, who recently had a vote of no confidence passed against him by the club's management committee, dismissed the protests as not being representative of the feelings of the majority of the Galway fans.
"What was it, 40 people and a team from the Umbro Cup as opposed to however many's in that big stand there, 400 people? 400 people clapped me before the game and at half-time, so absolutely no bother whatsoever. I'm the manager here, under contract and I'm doing a job. The players responded, the players backed me. I think you've seen tonight in the second-half, you know, that was a good performance from the players. I've managed Bohemians, believe you me I took worse than that! That was what, 40 kids? Get real, do you know what I mean? You try and have the whole stand at Bohemians calling for your head; I'm made from stronger stuff than that, I'm from West Belfast."
"I thought in the second-half for thirty minutes, we dominated the game. We just lacked that killer instinct. Two or three balls have gone across the box that probably a more natural poacher would put in, but we worked hard. Because, I think, we'd been so dominant our concentration at the back had probably gone a wee bit. To be fair, they've had two good chances and a penalty kick and they've taken [them]. But we didn't feel sorry for ourselves, I thought the boys' application and effort was good and they kept battling and working really hard. If we keep fighting like that we'll pick up points and we'll stop the rot sooner rather than later."
Answering a question about his defenders' apparent new-found willingness to attack the ball, the Galway boss was in firm agreement.
"Yes! And we have Yob Son who certainly will attack the ball, and maybe even the man on occasions", said Connor. "I think we've a bit more aggression, and what that's done is allow me to play Paul Sinnott in the middle of the park and that seems to have given him a new lease of life because his defensive qualities are helping us in there. I think, unfortunately, that all goals tonight came down the wings, but we haven't been cut open down the middle. Effort wise though I can't fault them and as I say, maybe over the 90 minutes their [Derry's] wee bits of individual quality has helped them to win the game."
New signing Lawrence Gaughan didn't have the best of starts to his career at Terryland, but his manager admits it was something of a baptism of fire for the youngster.
"I was just saying there about Lawrence, you know, he's disappointed with his performance tonight and I know he's a better player than that and so does he. But to make your debut against Derry; against Zayed and the boy McEleney, there was good movement up there and a lot of confidence."
With the dust barely settled on this latest defeat, Galway's gaze will now turn to next week's clash with Bray, who slipped to defeat against second-from-bottom Drogheda. Connor insists it will be a different Bray side when he takes his team to the Carlisle Grounds, but is hopeful of another good Galway performance.
"As soon as the game is over my focus has to go on next week. I'll go home and I'll watch the DVD of that game tonight and we'll talk with the players individually about wee mistakes and we'll work on that early in the week and then we're focussed. Bray had four players suspended tonight, you know, and we'll go next week and they'll have those four players back and be galvanised, so it'll be a tough game. But certainly if we perform like that, and can even get a bit more out of them, then we've every opportunity."
On a more personal note, Connor brushed off any idea that he was upset by a protest during the game from a section of the Galway support. A group of fans in the far stand chanted 'We want Connor out!' throughout the game and even unfurled a banner bearing the same message. But Connor, who recently had a vote of no confidence passed against him by the club's management committee, dismissed the protests as not being representative of the feelings of the majority of the Galway fans.
"What was it, 40 people and a team from the Umbro Cup as opposed to however many's in that big stand there, 400 people? 400 people clapped me before the game and at half-time, so absolutely no bother whatsoever. I'm the manager here, under contract and I'm doing a job. The players responded, the players backed me. I think you've seen tonight in the second-half, you know, that was a good performance from the players. I've managed Bohemians, believe you me I took worse than that! That was what, 40 kids? Get real, do you know what I mean? You try and have the whole stand at Bohemians calling for your head; I'm made from stronger stuff than that, I'm from West Belfast."
About Dean Hayes
Dean covers Waterford United and, due to a challenge from Gareth, writes in an increasingly Gonzo style. Having found himself with a considerable surplus of a culinary herb, Dean founded sister 'site extrathyme.ie some years … View Full Profile