An Interview with Conor O' Grady

One of the biggest and well known sporting names of Sligo, Conor O' Grady will always be one of the most respected people to have played for Sligo Rovers. Playing for the club over two spells, O' Grady has enjoyed promotion from the 1st division and of course last seasons Cup Double, and had the honour of lifting both Cups as captain. He has recently joined Finn Harps in an aim to get more first team football.

Photo courtesy of Kevin Finn

First of all Conor, thanks for taking the time to do this interview

"No problem at all!"

Who were your inspirations when growing up?

"Footballing wise Maradonna would have been my hero but my family was the biggest inspiration to me."

Who was the best LOI player you've played with during your career?

"I’d have to name four to be honest: Joey Ndo, Ritichie Ryan and Seamus Coleman I’ve played with at Rovers but also my time at Cork City I played with Kevin Doyle."

How did it feel to get called up to represent your country at various underage levels?

"It was a great honour for me and my family to be called up to represent your country. I had the privilege of scoring on my debut against Poland in a U-18 game, captaining Ireland to the Celtic Cup and also winning a bronze medal in the U-18 European Championships which were great experiences for me."

After your time with Cork City, you returned to Sligo Rovers in 2005 who were aiming for promotion. With some Premier division clubs showing interest in you, was helping your hometown club return to the top division a big factor in your move back?

"I didn’t really look at it that way in a sense; I was with Derry the season before and wasn’t getting regular games so I just wanted to get back playing. Sligo Rovers gave me that opportunity and obvious when I signed, promotion was the main aim for that year. That team and manager deserve great praise and credit for the success that followed on from 2005."

What was your personal favourite goal for Sligo Rovers and why?

"Probably my goal against St.Pats, because it was my first goal, I was only seventeen and I was a supporter of the club so anyone that remembers it will remember my celebration where I jumped onto the fence on the old Treacy Avenue side of the pitch."

And, your favourite performance and why?

"Don’t know if I have a one favourite performance, the league cup final in 1998 was massive. The F.A.I Cup Final 2010, to win it and to captain the team was something special. Also leading the team out in Europe was something I dreamt as a kid growing up."

Fittingly, your last game for Rovers was winning the FAI Cup, did you know at that stage that you would be playing for a new club for the following season?

"I didn’t really know if it was my last and it mightn’t have been my last but I’m 31 in May and want to play regularly and with work commitments as well as training in the morning which I was doing would have been harder for me to do, as I was the only part time player in the club."

Can you ever see yourself managing Sligo Rovers someday?

"It would be a high ambition of mine to manage rovers and management is something I hope to move onto when my career finishes but I hope to continue on playing for another few years at least before moving onto management."

If not a footballer, what would you be?
"Sales Rep( hahahaha)"

There was no doubting your passion and determination for Sligo Rovers. How did you motivate yourself every time you pulled on the red and white jersey?

"I didn’t have to motivate myself because I was doing something I loved and playing for a club I loved and still love and I loved playing every minute for the rovers."

Evan Cawley asks:

Was it tough for you to leave Sligo Rovers after such a successful season?

"It was and it wasn’t. It was because I wanted to stay involved in a successful team and obviously I live in Sligo and am based in Sligo so I would have liked to stay but what I’ve always wanted was to play football throughout my career and at my age I need to be playing regular football and Paul Cooke couldn’t guarantee first team football and also work was a factor in moving on."

Why did you choose to join Finn Harps?

"Cause it’s only 45 minutes down the road (hahaha) the fact of the matter is that I would have to leave Sligo if I was going to join another club and I was very impressive when the manager spoke to me."