GALWAY UNITED MANAGER Tommy Dunne wants his side to the lead from their rugby neighbours Connacht and copy their season of unprecedented success.
Connacht have become the Leicester City of the Pro12 and lead the way in the league with just six games remaining and that is something Dunne wants to tap into.
Dunne revealed that Connacht coach Pat Lam is helping them out and delivered an inspirational talk to the United players ahead of their season opener away to St Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park tomorrow.
Lam spoke with the Tribesmen during pre-season and Dunne said it left a huge impression on the squad.
“We are trying to improve the guys physically and mentally also. We had a good camp a few weeks ago, Pat was good enough to come in and chat to the guys. We are starting to get our mindset and our focus at a different level for this year,” he said.
United finished tenth in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division standings last term but with a host of new signings they will look to improve on that. And Lam gave a different perspective with his speech.
“He’s from a professional background, he has played in World Cups. He is managing at a high level in the club rugby scene. He is a big figure here and he’s an inspirational guy.
“A man who, when he spoke to the players, gave a different perspective but also in a sports’ context, he spoke about the mindset and where you need to be at. It was a really good 90-minute session that we had.
It was really beneficial. For me, maybe for the lads needed to get a different voice, to speak and to listen to him, about what it takes to be a professional player.
“It was all relevant and although it’s a different code. Generally in sport, in professional sport especially, it’s a similar vein all the time.
“We might get other people from different codes in and let them have a chat too, just to give the guys a different perspective. Sometimes to focus the mind and re-focus. When you are listening to the same voice all the time, maybe it doesn’t have as strong an effect as you want.
“But this year as players they’ll be more demanding of each other. The players that we have brought in, there’s that bit more hunger and desire, and a will to do well.”
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