ET Sunday - A New Dawn in Galway

"If you build it they will come" is a slightly skewed version of a quote from the movie 'Field of Dreams' about baseball. Strong parallels can be drawn however to what has been put in place with Galway FC striding out at Eamon Deacy Park for the first time on Friday night last.

Following the demise of Galway United many felt they had no one to support and certainly Salthill Devon and Mervue United were never going to be viable alternatives. Football fans are tribal, by nature, when it comes supporting 'their' team. Those of us who have supported professional teams since childhood always use the words  'us' & 'we' when we debate the ups and downs of the 'Man U's' and the Liverpool's' of this world.

While it was unfortunate that Galway United spiralled downward it coincided with the rise of both Salthill & Mervue, long the powerhouse clubs in the city, with some thirty teams each at all levels of the game; Both had earned the right to be members of the First division by coming through the 'A' Championship route. Soccer is, after all, a meritocracy at League level where natural selection, with promotion and relegation, is a long established norm.

The frustration experienced by some of the fans when their team disbanded led to some individuals looking for people to blame. It is a classic reaction and wholly understandable. However when a blame culture takes over it usually leads to some extreme behaviour and unsavoury commentary. The hiatus in Galway football - no team that the greater populous could hitch their wagon to, was filled with rancour, suspicion and downright bloody-mindedness.

Salthill Devon and Mervue United were feeling the heat - unjustly both felt. At this point I must declare that this writer is a card carrying, died in the wool, original member of Salthill Devon! However there was a realisation that what was good for the game was one entity in Galway at League level.

John Delaney, it must be said, was steadfast in his opinion that this was the only way forward and he invested a very significant amount of time in bringing the parties together. It wasn't easy and it wasn't quick! We could examine the protracted game of 'Ping Pong', with the "he said, they said", regroup, hold the line, not on my watch, clichéd outpourings that characterised proceedings for far too long.

However what we will do is fast forward to the point where we are at today - Galway FC are playing in the SSL Airtricity League of Ireland. How did that happen? After all that fuss! It happened because the FAI did indeed 'hold the line' and the key stakeholders sat down together and compromised! The Galway Football League, GUST, Salthill Devon and Mervue United all have 'skin in the game' that is soccer in Galway - without those entities working together, it could not happen. Neither could it happen without the financial support of the Comer brothers whose property empire has committed support for the next three seasons.

They did work together! The board is chaired by Bernie O'Connell, a man of integrity and energy. It is important to mention that board members  Joe Keating, Ollie Daniels, Declan McDonnell, Jim Mc Spadden, Steve Madden, Donnie Farragher, John Flannery and Tom Lally had one thing in common - a passion for the game and more importantly a passion for the game in Galway. Does anyone think it will be easy? - No it won't! There will be 'bun fights' along the way, but a clear direction has been set out. These people in particular have taken a big risk, shipped a lot abuse, but to nick a rugby world parlance 'fronted up' - big time.

There was a buzz in the ground on Friday night. The press box was crammed - I counted 18 people there at one point, all working. The St Patrick’s Brass band welcomed Uachtarán na hÉireann, Michael D. Higgins and the attendance of 2,418 was beyond expectations. The result may not have been the best, but there are several experienced players who will be back in contention this week and they will be very competitive; 'Tús maith leath na hoibre' they say, there was a warm glow emanating from Eamon Deacy Park on Friday night - fanning those embers and keeping the fires stoked will be the challenge both on and off the field.