Connor finds positives in Sligo defeat
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
ExtraTime.ie caught up with Sean Connor following his sides narrow
defeat to Sligo Rovers at a well attended Terryland Park.
The Galway United boss was less than pleased with the performance of referee Damien Hancock but conceded Sligo had the majority of the possession. “I think we’ve had a good shout for a penalty, Sean Maher says he was pulled down... It’s frustrating to see.”
Connor was not to turn on his young team however, who found it hard to get a proper foothold in the game against a Sligo Rovers side that were far superior in the possession stakes, “I’m happy with the effort, and the work rate of the team”. He again pointed to the young squad he has been forced to put together given the financial difficulties at the Western club, “The problem we have a squad of thirteen or fourteen players, outside of that they’re kids learning their trade and we need to keep our best players on the park”.
This was impossible in the closing minutes of the encounter on Friday evening as the experienced Alan Murphy had to be withdrawn as a precautionary measure, Connor stated “He just felt a pull on his groin, he’s played three games in the last ten days, it’s tough, he’s just back from a year out. Tonight showed just a lack of match practice really. Ideally we should be able to take Alan off with 20 minutes to go but once we take him off we are losing one of our most experienced players.”
Transfers or loans do not seem to be an available option for Galway at the moment, however Connor has got his eye on some talent once the FAI deem United to be in a stable enough position to do business. “I’m working really hard, I have players names on my desk, I’ve spoken to players. Financially we can’t really do anything for another couple of months until we show the FAI we’re coping with what we have. And if the crowd keep coming like this (attendance 1,736) we can look forward to strengthening the squad in July. There are certainly three of four players I’d like to bring in and they know who they are, and I know who they are.”
Galway United have conceded only one goal since the defeat to St Pats on the opening day of the league, an aspect of his young side that Connor is much pleased with. “I think apart from the St Pat’s game, we’ve played UCD, Bohs and Sligo now, and we’ve only conceded the one goal. We’re looking more solid as the games go on. Greg Fleming is looking solid.”
Despite the contradictory possession statistics Connor thought his Galway team deserved more out of the game “I’m not saying we deserved a victory here tonight, but I thought we deserved a point. Sligo had lots of ball, but really, not too many clear cut chances.
Friday evenings loss leaves Connor's side third from bottom, sharing four points with UCD, Connor spoke of his sides chances of remaining in the division “Ourselves, Drogheda, Bray and UCD, if we can finish top of that league we’ll improve one place on last year (and avoid relegation).”
The Galway United boss was less than pleased with the performance of referee Damien Hancock but conceded Sligo had the majority of the possession. “I think we’ve had a good shout for a penalty, Sean Maher says he was pulled down... It’s frustrating to see.”
Connor was not to turn on his young team however, who found it hard to get a proper foothold in the game against a Sligo Rovers side that were far superior in the possession stakes, “I’m happy with the effort, and the work rate of the team”. He again pointed to the young squad he has been forced to put together given the financial difficulties at the Western club, “The problem we have a squad of thirteen or fourteen players, outside of that they’re kids learning their trade and we need to keep our best players on the park”.
This was impossible in the closing minutes of the encounter on Friday evening as the experienced Alan Murphy had to be withdrawn as a precautionary measure, Connor stated “He just felt a pull on his groin, he’s played three games in the last ten days, it’s tough, he’s just back from a year out. Tonight showed just a lack of match practice really. Ideally we should be able to take Alan off with 20 minutes to go but once we take him off we are losing one of our most experienced players.”
Transfers or loans do not seem to be an available option for Galway at the moment, however Connor has got his eye on some talent once the FAI deem United to be in a stable enough position to do business. “I’m working really hard, I have players names on my desk, I’ve spoken to players. Financially we can’t really do anything for another couple of months until we show the FAI we’re coping with what we have. And if the crowd keep coming like this (attendance 1,736) we can look forward to strengthening the squad in July. There are certainly three of four players I’d like to bring in and they know who they are, and I know who they are.”
Galway United have conceded only one goal since the defeat to St Pats on the opening day of the league, an aspect of his young side that Connor is much pleased with. “I think apart from the St Pat’s game, we’ve played UCD, Bohs and Sligo now, and we’ve only conceded the one goal. We’re looking more solid as the games go on. Greg Fleming is looking solid.”
Despite the contradictory possession statistics Connor thought his Galway team deserved more out of the game “I’m not saying we deserved a victory here tonight, but I thought we deserved a point. Sligo had lots of ball, but really, not too many clear cut chances.
Friday evenings loss leaves Connor's side third from bottom, sharing four points with UCD, Connor spoke of his sides chances of remaining in the division “Ourselves, Drogheda, Bray and UCD, if we can finish top of that league we’ll improve one place on last year (and avoid relegation).”
