It has been a season packed with matches for Salthill Devon, but Vinny Faherty isn't complaining. The highly regarded former Galway United striker is relishing being back where it all started as Devon look to secure silverware in the closing weeks of a gruelling campaign.
An FAI Junior Cup semi-final loss to eventual winners Villa FC hurt, but the response in the Galway FA premier division and Connacht Cup has been positive. Two hard earned wins over Athenry in both competitions highlighted Salthill's endurance.
Victor Collins' team are digging out results which is encouraging according to Faherty. "It was a really, really tough game," Faherty says about the 2-1 league success over Athenry at Moanbaun.
"They were very up for it. Obviously they have been the standard bearers for the past four or five years. When I joined the club that was the initial discussion, they were the team we had to catch, they were the top dogs in the county."
The manner of the Villa reversal still enters Salthill minds. "It just felt like a chance missed, on another day we would have given them a good rattle," Faherty replies.
"We could have won that game, it was definitely a year to go to win the trophy."
Returning to Eamonn Deacy Park for Sunday's Connacht Junior Cup decider against a talented Ballinasloe Town outfit is next on the agenda.
"It is great to play in Eamonn Deacy Park," Faherty says. "I've had many a great day there, many a bad day too. It is a lovely occasion, a chance to win silverware."
More than a decade in the League of Ireland brought goals, friendships, and memories, but Faherty is enjoying being involved with Salthill again.
"It is totally different when you don't have contracts on the line, it is easier to get over the lows and you actually can probably enjoy the highs a little bit more too," Faherty says.
"With the League of Ireland you dust yourself down and it is on to the next one very, very quickly. You don't dwell on anything too long.
"Not that it is more relaxed, once you cross the line you want to win. It is great being back part of the club."
**Listen to the full interview with Salthill Devon's Vinny Faherty on this week's 'Cian on Sport' podcast available on Soundcloud, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
