Derek O'Brien - Delighted to be back
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DAMNING Galway United to the bottom of the Premier League table before a ball has been kicked in anger this season is a ‘stupid statement’ according to midfielder Derek O’Brien.
The 29-year-old, who returned to the west just prior to pre-season, is adamant this year’s League of Ireland will be a hotly contested affair and Galway would be right up there in the mix.
“I think it will be a lot closer than people think,” the Kerry native said on the eve of the opening round. “I know a lot of people and bookies and newspapers have us as finishing 10th, but I think that’s a stupid statement because we’re a bit of an unknown. The main thing is we got a good pre-season in. I fancy us to surprise a few teams this season.”
United have been drawn to play St Patrick's Athletic in tomorrow’s first round game at Richmond Park, a tie certain to be tainted with plenty of emotion following former manager Jeff Kenna’s controversial move there back in January.
O’Brien also has a recent link to the Inchicore club, after he was reluctantly transferred there mid-last season during Galway's financial woes. But he declares he’s “delighted to be back” with Galway, a move negotiated during the Kenna departure in what many speculated as a bargaining chip-agreement.
“I didn’t want to leave the club in the lurch and that’s what I felt like I was doing (when transferred last season),” O’Brien said.
“But then it was explained to me that it would actually be helping the club if I went. I’m delighted to be back. In my opinion, the only time a player should move clubs is if they really, really want to.”
United manager Ian Foster has already declared there is no ill-feeling between the club and Kenna, and O’Brien re-iterated Foster’s claims, although warned he would no doubt receive a frosty reception from travelling Galway fans tomorrow night in Richmond Park .
“I think he better wear a helmet,” he joked. “Either that or he should stay in the dug-out all night. But he’s been a professional player for a long time so he’ll know what to expect.
“Personally I don’t have anything against him, he got an opportunity to take a club to Europe and it’s a club that’s apparently close to his home and his heart. If I was in his shoes I probably would have done the same thing. But having said that I don’t mind if our fans give him a fair bit of grief tomorrow night.”
A lively on-field character, O’Brien is the second oldest in the squad behind ‘keeper Barry Ryan, and likely to be a much-needed experienced head in the young Galway dressing room this season.
“But it doesn’t make a difference (that there’s so many young players),” he said. "You need a minimum requirement of fitness and legs and we’ve got that. I always like to think that I’m vocal and will try and lead by example. But when you get out on the field you want 11 leaders.”
He believed United's main strength would be in attack but was confident with the current mix of the squad, calling them a 'pack of hungry lads' following their unbeaten pre-season run.
"We're really looking forward to it (tomorrow night)," he said. "It's all about the three points."
