Paul Sinnott knows just how quickly the fortunes of Galway United can change.
The 29-year-old United captain, who remains a valuable figure in Tommy Dunne's team, was one of the believers when this particular journey started 18 months ago.
“When we gathered for training at the start of last season, I had a feeling that something good could happen,” Sinnott says. “We had lots of good, young hungry players training and the way Tommy wanted us to play the game was interesting. I felt we had huge potential and I think that has been evident during the past season and a half.”
During the past couple of weeks United have been able to forget about relegation worries to focus on Saturday's EA Sports Cup final with St Patrick's Athletic at Eamonn Deacy Park.
"It will be a proud moment for my family and me,” Sinnott says about leading United out for a first League Cup decider since 1997.
"I’ve played all my life in Galway, so it is a special moment. Our morale is good, we have trained really well for the last few weeks, and we are looking for to it.
"You have to treat it as a usual match. We have six cup finals coming in the league too, every match we will play is massively important. Hopefully the outcome will be good.”
Enjoying the role and responsibility of being skipper, Sinnott is encouraged that so many native Galwegians have been involved with the club since March 2014.
“It is something we talk about to each other. So many lads from different parts of Galway have played well for the team and that is important.
“It is great because the spirit in the squad is helped by this, and then, when you add good players from elsewhere, you are in a strong position. Definitely, though, it is a brilliant thing to have such an involvement of Galway players.
"Every young lad in Galway should aspire to playing for Galway United. That is what they should want to do. We are lucky enough to be involved in this game and we realise the importance it has. To win a trophy at Eamonn Deacy Park would be something special.”
