These are encouraging times for Galway WFC with new manager Alan Murphy eager to build on a solid foundation that has been established.
The work carried out by Billy Clery and Stephen Lally ensures Murphy believes that further progress can be made in the 2022 WNL.
Throughout the season Murphy took training sessions with Galway WFC’s progressive U17 and U19 teams so the Ballinrobe native is completely aware of the talent available.
“There is huge potential, in terms of the last year I have been involved with the U17s and U19s just doing my little bit and getting a taste for it,” the former Galway United boss says. “I haven't been hugely surprised because I have been keeping an eye on it for a while and the quality is extremely high.
“We have such an array of talent coming through that it was a no brainer for me getting involved. I am really ambitious and I think we are on to something here.”
Shelbourne, Peamount United, and Wexford Youths have set good standards with DLR Waves another emerging force in an increasingly interesting WNL with Murphy acknowledging that the women’s game is improving significantly.
“You only need to look at the competitiveness of the league this year and obviously it going right down to the wire and what happened,” he replies.
“If you analyse the simple stuff like the amount of time the players are now training and the interest that is in it from outside. It is a huge growth area, but I think there is a lot more in it, I think we are in a really good place to drive it forward, especially within Galway.
“We are in a nice place where we have done well at underage and I think it is important now to be able to transfer that underage success to being really competitive at senior level.
“A little bit like many years ago when young players got their chance it is needed that these players push in and that we don't try to flood the place by getting players in. We have our own.”
That blend of emerging and established players meant Galway WFC concluded the 2021 campaign strongly.
“It is lovely, a mix that any team would want with some serious talent, I won't even call them seasoned because there is a lot more in the tank for the senior players if you want to call them that,” Murphy adds.
“Then you look at the amount of Irish internationals we have coming through and possibly more coming through that need representation. We are in a really healthy spot. Yes you will always need an addition here and there with any team sport that is looking to achieve to push on in terms of performance.
“You are always going to need that, but we are in a healthy place. We are not lacking that much at all in terms of making the next step. You only need to look at the likes of Savannah [McCarthy], who is now on the international radar. I think there is a lot more of that to come. I am here for that reason to develop the players that are going to come through, to really become competitive.”
Murphy, who will remain in charge of the Oughterard footballers, is also delighted that Phil Trill and Adrian Cronin will be involved in his backroom team for the upcoming adventure.
“I have worked with Phil all year in the underage set-up, his record is proof in itself,” Murphy says.
“The amount of players that he has brought through and the success he has had. He will be hugely beneficial and an easy guy to work with. My job will also be to bring the experience that I have in terms of coaching and management, to push him on in terms of his career and that next step of wanting to push his career on. I have known Adrian for probably nearly 20 years on and off. I have been involved with him in different set-ups.
“What you get with Adrian is professionalism and a track record of developing goalkeepers. We will have more to come in to help us out. If anything I have learned in the last while is that you need good people, you need people that are willing to put in the effort, to have a common goal.”
Clery and Lally continue to contribute to Galway football. “I have been in contact with the lads a lot in the last few days,” Murphy responds.
“Stephen will go into the development of the underage. If you look at where we are at the moment, that is huge anyway. There will be players jumping back and over from that, coming up to the first team, pushing to be involved. Then going back having to show they are a step ahead of the other U19s or U17s maybe.
“Billy has a wealth of experience. In the last while I would suggest Billy has grown the club, put in a lot of effort in terms of facilities just from the ground up. I used to bounce a lot of ideas and him to me too when I was managing the men's team.
“There was a lot of similar stuff where we were a jack of all trades trying to improve the whole thing. He will be a vital one for me as will Ruth Fahy. Ruth has very similar goals as to what I have myself in terms of pushing the project on, getting that professionalism within the club and within the group. Striving for success is really important.”
**Listen to the full interview with new Galway WFC manager Alan Murphy on this week’s ‘Cian on Sport’ podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
