Being back involved in the senior game is a challenge Don O’Riordan is ready to embrace.
The former Galway United and Galway WFC boss takes charge of Treaty United in the upcoming WNL which commences in March.
O’Riordan is relishing the opportunity. “It has been a while since I was with the Galway Women's team, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them at that stage,” he reflects.
“Over the years a couple of League of Ireland teams have approached me on the men's side to take over - two of them. I turned them both down, but I have no regrets about that. I am one of these who believes in what goes around comes around.
“You just keep your head down, you keep working hard. I have been working with Merlin Woods, who are a fantastic club growing on a daily basis.”
Conversations with Treaty officials offered encouragement. “Suddenly there was a call from Treaty, they wanted me to consider taking over,” O’Riordan adds.
“After two or three phone calls we were in a good place, I decided to take it. One of the directors said what excites you about joining Treaty? I said just the fact that it is back in the top women's league in the country. I am not going to look back on where the team was last year, I'm going to look forward, to try to improve on last year.
“That is all they are looking for, they want a little improvement on last year, if possible, which I think we will achieve.
“I am just thrilled to be back on this stage working with fantastic women, who want to represent their city and do well in the national league. Hopefully that will all come together and we will all enjoy it.”
Similarities exist between Galway, when O’Riordan was in charge, and Treaty, who have significant promise, now.
“The standard in Galway when I took over, the level of play probably wasn't where I wanted it to be even though I think over the next 18 months we did really, really well, and kept improving as time went on,” O’Riordan, who fondly recalls giving Alan Murphy his League of Ireland debut for Galway United, responds.
“That is exactly the same plan for this, the club is looking at a two to three year plan. At this stage we are rock bottom of the table, but in two to three years time why can't we be in the upper half of the table challenging at that end rather than being down at the bottom end. It is going to be one step at a time.”
Building a sustainable club that can enable footballers to prosper is the mission O’Riordan wants to accomplish with Treaty.
“I have been absolutely thrilled with the attitude of the women, the people surrounding me in the club have done everything possible to help,” he says.
“The facilities at UL are unbelievable so there is a lot of plusses going on at the moment. We are trying to form a squad and we are doing that on a daily basis with calls and so on. The league standard, for me, has improved a lot since I was last involved. With Vera [Pauw] in charge of the national team I think she is expressing her opinions to nearly every club. Treaty last year had girls involved with the U19s, Dave Connell's set-up which shows that there is a huge potential and with the U17s winning the league.
“It is a blank canvas for everyone, including myself, but it is one I'm looking forward to. The league is changing for the better, it is becoming much more professional than it was in the past and that is a really good sign for women's football going forward.”
Striking a correct balance of emerging and established players is critical for O’Riordan. “I have always said as a manager I don't care how old you are as long as you are good enough,” he adds.
“It is very exciting for the Treaty girls to realise that they have a manager who will give them the stage if they apply themselves correctly and show how good they are. I will never be afraid to do that. I am not saying it is going to be a team of youngsters, I want to get a blend, but in general so far it has been great to see the standard and the quality.
“Hopefully it will continue to improve with new signings and we will be able to compete in this league at a decent level.”
**Listen to the full interview with Don O’Riordan on this week’s ‘Cian on Sport’ podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
