Fabio's Training Diary
Part 4

After a weekend of football and team bonding there is a lot to write about this Monday afternoon. The group got to know each other very well this weekend which was part of the exercise as well as to gain some game time. The personalities are starting to come through in the bunch, and I honestly wouldn’t say it for the sake of it, but they are a great bunch to work with and I hope I can help win something with them this year. I can tell we are a good, hungry, honest group with all the right ingredients for success.

The games this weekend were not great to be honest and it is proof that we need plenty of ballwork before season starts. We were all very short of match sharpness. Over the two games we played ok in very small spells. Despite this we know it’s early and remain very positive within the group.

The first game against Mervue should have been a draw, as we did ok for most parts of game and put together some great moments. The Salthill game on the other hand was poor. If we hadn’t conceded so simply it would have developed into, as I say, a typical pre-season tight scrappy affair. The only major plus is that there are no real injury concerns from the weekend away! I have to say a big thanks to the fans who came to Galway for the games. It’s a long way to travel and all I can say is fair play lads and lassies.

The squad really can't wait for the Dundalk game and it is the stand out fixture of pre-season. We will have had a few good sessions in before Thursday and hopefully the result will be a lot better than the last two games.

Ahead of the Malone Cup, I'd also like to properly welcome Johnny Breen to the squad too. He’s not the brightest, but a smashing player and top lad even if he does hail from Dundalk! He's alright our Johnny!

Also big mention to Damian (Cabbage) and Phil for sorting the grub after training each day. Everything is very much appreciated by all the players.

Fabio.