"It is always hard leaving the family back home, but I am coming to a place where I know a lot of people, it almost feels like a second home to me,” Shane Doherty says about returning to the west of Ireland for another season with Galway United.
Doherty’s dynamism and willingness to work means the Delran, New Jersey native is fondly regarded by colleagues, coaches, and supporters.
In 2019 under Alan Murphy’s stewardship Doherty initially signed and continues to enjoy representing United. “I keep saying the same thing, but I was really lucky to come in when I did, it gave me a really good opportunity to get me fully into the league,” he says.
“Since then I feel like every year we have been able to build as a group and individually I have been able to get experience. It is a tough league to play in, experience is everything. Every match you play in, every training session you do learn a lot more, you get better from it.”
That desire to improve matters deeply with Doherty acknowledging the relevance of the full-time set-up re-introduced by John Caulfield at the outset of the 2021 campaign. “I think it is really important,” Doherty responds.
“To be able to focus on it, to train in the mornings. I think it is good for the league, I think it is good all around just in general. For the league to be pushing on having more and more full-time teams, as a group and individually it is a big advantage, it is something I'm very happy to be a part of.”
Inevitably personnel in the United squad has altered with Doherty delighted to be back preparing for a number of upcoming friendlies. “It is important to get sessions, to get matches,” he adds.
“There is nothing like match fitness, you can do all the running you want on your own, but it is hard to assimilate what you are doing in a match. Hopefully I will get a few under my belt and we do have a few coming up. So I will be looking forward to that. It is just nice to be back here.”
Caulfield’s passion has helped to forge a proper, meaningful connection between the team and Galway sports followers. “Sport is important in everyone's life, especially in mine,” Doherty says.
“You don't realise how much sport does for people, it is something I can connect to - the fans - because I myself am a sports fan.”
At the end of last season Doherty relished the opportunity to perform in front of significant attendances at Eamonn Deacy Park. “I'd be lying if I said it was the same when there are no crowds in,” Doherty says.
“Even for the Shelbourne friendly there was a bit of an atmosphere, it was such a difference when the crowds started coming in. As a player it is what you play for, it is what you dream about, especially that match against Bray. The result was very gutting, but in terms of the crowd and the atmosphere it was really, really neat to be a part of.”
**Listen to the full interview with Galway United’s Shane Doherty on this week’s ‘Cian on Sport’ podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
