Galway senior football team goalkeeper Connor Gleeson pictured at the launch of a three year partnership between Connacht GAA and Pinergy, Ireland’s energy transition company.
By Cian O’Connell
Gaelic Football dominates the conversations in Dunmore. So, the fact that Dunmore MacHales are busy preparing for a first Galway SFC quarter-final in 22 years matters deeply.
Saturday’s encounter against Salthill-Knocknacarra is next on the agenda for Dunmore with goalkeeper Connor Gleeson delighted that the club is beginning to stir again. “It is probably where we were aiming to be at the start of the year, to get to this stage, to push on after staying up in our first year last year,” Gleeson says.
“There has been a big buzz around football in Dunmore for maybe the last four or five years, everything is going well.”
Significant work has been carried out at underage level, ensuring talented footballers are emerging for one of the traditional forces in Galway football, who last won a county senior title back in 1983. “We're probably playing off two good underage crops,” Gleeson explains.
“We've the one that won the North Board final in 2021 mixed in with the U19s now, who are in a North Board final on Thursday week. Those two teams are really going to bring the club through, along with the few, I won't say older heads, because I'm only 31, but we've a few 28 or 29, experienced players.”
The fact that Dunmore are relevant again provides encouragement and hope in Dunmore. “It probably does, people in Dunmore in the past were so used to success,” Gleeson responds.
“That was definitely tough, the 20 odd years we were intermediate. Even at that, I think I was nine years from when I started playing intermediate, we hadn't even got past a quarter-final.
“To think where we are now, in a senior quarter-final, to not even winning one of them intermediate for nine years, it is mad to think about it. I thought it wasn't meant to me.”
Gleeson knows all about the value of perseverance. At the end of 2019, Gleeson was delighted that incoming Galway manager Pádraic Joyce invited him into the senior inter-county panel. “He is the one that gave me the chance, he rang me back in 2019, just coming into 2020,” Gleeson recalls.
“I don't know was Galway football even on my mind at the time. His brother, Tommie, and John Concannon had me on a minor team, that could have been an influence for Padraic to give me a call. I'm happy he did.”
The Dunmore MacHales custodian has subsequently featured in two All-Ireland finals for Galway. The 2024 loss to Armagh hurt. “A final like that is different because the season is completely ended,” Gleeson says.
Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson pictured before the 2024 All-Ireland SFC Final at Croke Park. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
“So, I haven't watched it back, I've watched back certain parts from my game, that I've analysed, and will analyse with the goalkeeping coach when we get back for pre-season. You just have to get on with it, you've the club season which came around three weeks later.
“The way the season ended, you were looking forward to going back with the club, just for a distraction. Those few weeks were tough.”
Ultimately, Gleeson only conceded two championship goals in an action packed 2024 which also included kicking the winning point in the Connacht SFC decider against Mayo. “When you look at the season overall, it was an okay or a good season personally,” Gleeson says.
“The highlight probably being the Connacht final, that could be something you look back on in years to come when you're finished playing.
“At the moment, you're only thinking about, I'm only thinking about this Saturday, and then for Galway, you're just thinking about getting back in next year.”
Sport always occupied a central role in Gleeson's life. At this stage exactly 10 years ago Gleeson was a commanding and influential figure when Galway United secured promotion to the top tier.
Does he ever wonder about how his own career unfolded? “You can look at that both ways,” Gleeson replies. “Did I stay too long with soccer or did I not stay long enough? I loved my first four or five years in the League of Ireland up until I was about 21, I had maybe 70 appearances.
“It just wasn't happening after that for whatever reason. Should I have gone playing Gaelic then? I'm happy the way it has worked out, to be honest.
“When you're saying timing, I remember in 2014 I was number one, it was probably the only year I had a full season at number one. I was 20 going on 21. The step up to the premier division, it was definitely too early for me, and I had one or two poor performances.
“That could have been the beginning of the end of my League of Ireland career. It never really got going after that.”
A few years later Pádraic Joyce intervened, affording Gleeson an opportunity with Galway. That Gleeson is also contributing to Dunmore MacHales’ revival adds another degree of satisfaction.
