By Damian Dolan

Goalkeeper Adrian Faherty heads London's six-strong Galway contingent plotting to bring about the downfall of the Tribesmen at Ruislip on Sunday - five years after lining out against the Exiles on the same ground.

The sides' 2009 Connacht SFC meeting was Faherty's Galway championship debut, after playing in the two previous National League campaigns for Galway. He would help the Tribesmen to a 1-18 to 1-7 victory that day, although he left Ruislip with mixed emotions after picking Mark Alcorn's speculative high ball out of the back of his net.

"It wasn't one of my finest moments," recalled Faherty talking to The Irish World. "It just hung and hung. I caught it and then fumbled it and it ended up in the goal - just one of those things.

"It feels like yesterday; we went ahead a small bit towards the end and put a bit of gloss on the scoreboard. It was a difficult afternoon; it was about 30 degrees that day and it was good to get the win.

Galway would go on to reach the Connacht final, where they lost out to Mayo. Five years on he could be between the London posts, as Galway make their Ruislip return.

"It's weird; right from when I was 15 or 16 I always wanted to be Galway's number one, but now I want to be London's number one. It's funny how things change, but I'm in the London dressing room this year. I'll be looking for a different result this time around," said Faherty.

"I would have played against all of the Galway panel at some stage in club games or championship games back home, so I'll just put that to one side and focus on my own performance if I'm selected.

"I'll obviously always have a place in my heart for Galway and I hope they succeed, but not this year."

He might have reached another Connacht final last year, only this time with London, but declined an approach from manager Paul Coggins and selector Kevin Downes due to work commitments.

"Obviously I regret that decision now, with them having their best year, but hopefully we can build on that," he said.

"I'd had a tough number of years with Galway back-to-back and I said I'd step away from the inter-county scene for a year and re-assess. I made the decision that I wasn't going to be able to give the commitment that I wanted to give.

"I was more settled this year and I knew the ins and outs of things a bit better, and just speaking to Paul and Kevin, I really both of them, really liked what they had to say, so I made the decision to give as much commitment as I could this year.

"I knew what Paul, his management team and the players are capable of, and anyone interested in football knows the quality of players that are in London."

Faherty had qualified to play for London last year by virtue of lining out for Neasden Gaels, albeit outfield. While not a reluctant number one, Faherty has always preferred to enjoy the best of both worlds.

When hometown club goalkeeper, and Galway number one, Brian Donoghue, went travelling to Australia, Faherty took over between the Claregalway posts. A successful spell saw him called up by then Galway manager Liam Sammon, on the strength of that one season. He'd only previously played in goal in soccer.

"I'm training very hard to be as good as I can be in goals, but it is a nice release to play outfield as well for the club," said Faherty, who fight it out with Evan Byrne and Declan Traynor for the London number one jersey.

"Competition breeds success and Paul keeps harping on about that and I couldn't agree with him more. We had two minors make their debut against Louth and right throughout the squad we have competition for places - that breeds success and that's what we're trying to create in London."

In their way on Sunday stand a Galway wide which has underachieved in the past few years - Faherty knows that only too well.

"I'd be very good friends with quite a number of them and I'd be club mates with a few as well. Alan Mulholland was my manager right the way up from Under 16, Under 21 and senior," he said.

"The last week or two it's begun to filter back - it was quiet up till then. They're getting the word alright that I could be playing.

"I'm expecting a very big performance from Galway. They haven't been in a Connacht final since 2009 and that is not acceptable for Galway whatsoever. It's a very traditionally successful county.

"There's a bit of pressure on them at the minute and they're been forced into a corner, and no matter what county you are, if you're put in a corner you come out fighting. That's when Galway are at their best. It will be interesting; May 25 is a big game for both sides, but hopefully we'll come out on the right side of it." Tweet

Most Read Stories