Shantalla eyes were smiling when Shanwalla triumphed in the 6.45 race on Galway Plate Day. Jonathan Corbett might be part of the Galway United story during the past decade, but it was a memorable Wednesday in Ballybrit.
A businessman, who has invested plenty in supporting local clubs, Corbett was delighted to have a winner on home turf. “It was a special week for all involved, it probably came on us a bit faster than we thought,” Corbett says.
“It will go down in the memory as a great week, a great day, probably a bit embarrasing jumping around the parade ring at 40 odd years of age, but it was good craic.”
Galway United and racing has been central to Corbett’s life. On the opening night of the SSE Airtricity League campaign in 2016 United came from behind to defeat St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park. Poetic Choice had won a race in Dundalk shortly before kick-off.
“A few years ago with the Clarkes in Dunshaughlin in Meath, we had Poetic Choice and a few other horses with them,” Corbett recalls.
“We won, but we were never there when the horse won. We were always away, Galway United were playing a match, our young lads were playing a match, something like that. About a year ago we got involved in a horse called Tribal Story, my sister in law, Mary, and my brother Derek know the Gilligans. We said we would give it a bit of a go, but he didn't work out for us.
“Paul and Natalie Gilligan offered us the chance to buy into a horse Shanawalla. So we did that. About three or four weeks ago it ran in Kilbeggan. We weren't allowed in, we weren't registered in time. I had to watch the race from outside looking in. We made up for that last Wednesday so we did.”
United’s marked improvement since the mid season break is a source of significant optimism. Six wins and a draw have been posted, and 800 spectators will be allowed attend tomorrow’s SSE Airtricity League first division encounter against Cork City at Eamonn Deacy Park.
“It has made such a difference since we were allowed have 100 in or 200 in,” Corbett says about the importance of sport.
“Trying to get those numbers in, looking after season ticket holders, sponsors, and even the general public. In fairness for those match nights it is other board members, who have done that. I don't know how they have done it, they could be ringing people an hour before the match trying to get it to the exact number, to make sure everybody has a chance to get in.
“That difference, having the lads with the drum or people just generally encouraging the team on, giving out a bit to the referee or whatever else - that bit of atmosphere that we were all missing, it is such a big part of it.
“The team asked us, John Caulfield asked us, 'how many are coming in this weekend, we need to get numbers up, it would be great to get 300 or 500'. He is always pushing us as we all know. For us to have the number we are going to have in on Friday night, that is massive for us.”
Caulfield’s enthusiasm for the cause will delight United enthusiasts according to Corbett. “His passion on the sideline, everybody can see on the TV, but now they are going to get a chance to see it in real life, what happens there,” he adds. “I think that has been missing for a lot of people for a year and a half.”
Running a club in the SSE Airtricity league is demanding in so many ways – finance, fixtures, facilities all need to be sorted.
“You can say that a few times, it is not easy,” he replies. “The rewards can be great. The sentence that is always used is to keep it going. That is what it should be. It is something that we feel, as a board, it is not just the senior team, we are now bringing in our academy players, we need to get facilities. Every week there is always something cropping up.
“It is a lot tougher than running my businesses, it is definitely a lot tougher than other bits and pieces, home life and stuff. We have 100 plus players under our roof if you look at it that way, it is getting bigger and bigger. It is costing more and more money every year to run it.”
Building for the future is critical. That is why Corbett wants Galway United to eventually have a training base. “It is very simple, we don't have our own facilities,” Corbett adds. “This year we are blessed to use Salthill's facilities which are fantastic. John Caulfield has told us umpteen times not many other clubs in Ireland will train in the facilities we are training in at the moment. We thank Salthill for that, there is a charge, but it is fantastic to use those facilities.
“When kids come through their local clubs to play national league with Galway United, we have to give them facilities that they deserve.
“At the moment that is a struggle. It is not for the want of trying - Kiltullagh, Oranmore, East United, Corrib Rangers, Knocknacarra, I could go on. Everybody has always been accommodating to us. Even if we do build our own facility we would still need to use the likes of Salthill, Oranmore, Knocknacarra, Mervue. We will still need facilities like that.”
Close links have been forged with the Galway FA which is critical for the long term development of the game Corribside.
“The relationship we have at the moment with the Galway FA, it is the best it has ever been,” Corbett states.
“Tom Trill, all the guys and ladies on the board, it is absolutely fantastic. Every meeting we have is cordial, it is progressive, it is looking down the line, how can we create better facilities for both sides, how we can work together.
“That is where it is at the moment. We are working together on doing different bits and pieces, I think it will be for the better for kids playing for Galway FA teams and Galway United.”
