By Sea_point
July 14 2006

Sometimes it a curse to be a Galway & Connacht man, (particularly if you're an ex-pat). As a sports mad kid you grow up amongst your own, comforted by the common cause (be it successful or not)...

Sometimes it a curse to be a Galway & Connacht man, (particularly if you're an ex-pat). As a sports mad kid you grow up amongst your own, comforted by the common cause (be it successful or not). So you shout for your teams in Rugby – (Wegians & Connacht), GAA (Galway) and Soccer (United or Rovers as they were back then..), or whatever you fancy yerself be you Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim or Roscommon... Some weeks you are blessed with the warm glow of victory, just as many are spent dealing with the harsh pangs of an inglorious defeat.

 

But ripped away from the bosom of this consciousness one is made aware of an alien emotion, that emotion is “Expectation”. It’s a big word that is only ever used in hushed tones out West of the Shannon. All Irelands, FAI cups, Heineken Cup qualification..? Ssssshhhh, don’t banjax us for god’s sake. Regardless of the often glorious talents in our sides we hide behind fear and superstition and we always, always expect the worst.

 

Until recent times one could understand this native fear, this lack of self belief. Hundreds of years of oppression by invading forces, and maltreatment by successive Irish governments have sent the one singular message to generations of Connacht men and women. “If you want to be a winner, get the hell out of there.”

 

But now is now and then is then. The province is booming, our provincial capital is recognised as the third largest city in the country (and we don’t have to include neighbouring counties populations to do it). It’s also renowned globally as a hotbed of Irish culture. We have a province full of stunning scenic locations on everyone’s doorstep. We have long-term successful businesses established in the province, investing in our local economy. We have seats of education and learning that have seen recent generations of sons and daughters traverse the globe at the behest of huge conglomerates desperate for Irish talent and rocketing up the corporate ladder without fear of equal.

 

We also have lots of indigenous talented sportsmen and women who compete at the highest levels, and the most relevant of these is our only full time professional team the Connacht Rugby team. Yes adult rugby is still very much at the development stage in the province, yes we have a local population that is much smaller and widely spread than those of our competitors. But the single-most thing that differentiates us Connacht Men and Women in the sporting arena is that there is an inbuilt lack of self belief to win, and a willingness to accept failure as long as it’s glorious.

 

On the bigger scale it has been an Irish quality over the years, but we have seen changes and Irish teams (Rowers, Sailors, Horsemen and women, Athletes etc..) and yes even our Rugby teams are challenging regularly for International honours. It’s about time that this our province and its support and its sponsors stepped out of the comfort zone, and challenged the pre-conceptions of opponents (particularly those of our nearest rugby neighbours) that we are great guys and gals with loads of spirit, but an easy touch. 

 

I've personally had some great times supporting Connacht mainly in Europe & the UK, a night spent in the company of a local hobo on a platform at Northampton Station after a famous win back in October 1997 after we thrashed the Saints 10-20 at Franklins Gardens. I still firmly believe that Connacht Rugby can achieve what ever it wants, but we have to believe that we can produce International class players consistently and in positions where we cannot; that we can recruit the best possible candidates (not just fillers in). We need to show on and off the field that we are unafraid to be winners on a regular basis, we need to stand up and believe in ourselves and tell the knockers and begrudgers to eff off. Not just mutter the belief, but roar it eyeball to eyeball, game in and game out, year in and year out…

 

It’s a well worn cliché that you don’t achieve success by chance. Of course winners invariably always enjoy a bit of luck, but without determination and more importantly self-determination and positive thinking nothing can be achieved. The first step is to make the Sportsground and all it's limitations our very own fortress, to believe that on our patch we are invincible and for eighty plus minutes to play like we do regardelss of the scores on the board.

 

This is the season where we must make a big step forward, to put in place the stepping stone for our first qualification for the Heineken Cup and for hopefully the first of many more.

 

Connacht Abú…