‘I didn’t think I would be back in the dugout at Finn Park for the first game’

The day the news broke in November about the parting of the ways, Ollie Horgan said that he wouldn’t be too far away from Finn Park in the future, albeit in a much different capacity.

In his nine years in charge of Finn Harps, there were more smooths than roughs, although last season’s relegation from the Premier Division meant he packed his bags with regret. That said, there was enough credit in the bank and at the time and even now, the separation was considered the natural conclusion. 

Horgan, who still teaches at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny, was expected to make a quiet return to Finn Park when the chance arose, standing on the periphery, less seen and less heard than when he manned the touchlines. However, as fate would decree, Horgan will be back on that same touchline this Friday for the first time Harps take to the field since a 3-1 loss to UCD meant their relegation was confirmed. 

“It came out of the blue,” Horgan said of the offer from Galway United to become assistant manager. 

Horgan missed one training session all of last season when he lost his mother, Bernadette, who was originally from Thomond Gate, Limerick, in August and spent many hours commuting to and from his native Salthill. He still frequently makes the same journey to look after his father Joe.

“It’s not a hugely life-changing thing for me, with half my family in Galway and my father, who is an elderly man now, is there,” Horgan said. “There’s a little bit of care needed for him. I was going to spend more time at home a year ago and I feel if I left it any longer I mightn’t have as many family members to get down to. The travel won’t be a complaint for me as I didn't have to get back involved, so Galway United suits me.”

In his time as Harps manager, Horgan filled multiple roles well outside of the job description, some of which were never spoken of and others that might well be myth. It was said that he once flew to Canada on a one-day return trip to convince a player to sign. 

Ahead of a training session early in his tenure, he apparently bought the entire first team squad socks and that last season he mowed the Finn Park grass before a top-flight encounter. He spent so much time going over and back to the UK scouting and meeting players, it was said he ended up leaving a Galway registration-plated van there.

One thing is for certain, Harps were lucky to have a committed, genuine man in charge and those traits transferred onto the field. It was a lot - too much perhaps - for one man, but the role in Galway is more what he wants at this point in his life.

“It’s a different position,” Horgan said. “It’s more football-based and that’s my role instead of dealing with budgets and boards. That’s something that wouldn’t have interested me - to go again - at the present time. So it’s more the football end of it. I spend half my week in Galway anyways so it’s not like it’s a huge change geographically.

“I didn’t think I would be back in the dugout at Finn Park for the first game - maybe just in the crowd just - but so be it. After nine years, there was disappointment in ways. But over the nine years we probably had more good days than bad. I haven’t spoken to anyone really and I’ve moved on and so have Finn Harps. They’ve gone down a different direction and it looks hugely encouraging for them.”

Horgan and Galway manager John Caulfield used to watch on as no quarter was given between their respective Fanad and Avondale sides in the FAI Intermediate Cup, and then later with Harps and Cork City.

“Galway have a lot of things going for them and a few not,” Horgan added. “I have known John for a good while. It hasn’t been as easy to attract players as we thought. The First Division is not as attractive to players, regardless of geography or finance. That seems to be the biggest obstacle. It does, though, seem to be a very well structured, organised and professional club and that’s what’s needed at the very least.”

Horgan used to support Galway United growing up, back in the days when they played European fixtures in Connemara. His brother Martin was a sidekick, with Salthill-Knocknacarra, then as part of the drive out at Maree Oranmore and he too was a teacher, in his case at St Mary’s College in the city. 

“A bit like myself, maybe he didn’t win too many teacher of the year awards,” Horgan laughed as he described Martin.

By the time Johnny Glynn won the FAI Cup final for Galway against Shamrocks Rovers at the old Lansdowne in 1991, Horgan was teaching for a couple of years at St Eunan’s College.

The job offer was taken without a second thought, although he occasionally recalls something that drew him to become involved in sport in the north-west. Whilst in University College Galway he got the chance one summer in the late-eighties to travel to the Big Apple with Connemara Gaels. Although he admits he didn’t know the Donegal lads by name around Yonkers Avenue or Gaelic Park, there was something in them. Whether it be sorting accommodation for one another, sourcing jobs or backing one another up if things got rough on or off the field, there was a bond. 

“I’ve said a few times before when I was young, when I wasn't as mature, I always noticed the togetherness of the Donegal people, especially when I was in New York,” Horgan said. “There’s something about them. When I got the chance to work here I came up and that spirit kept me involved in sport. I was 25 years with Fanad as a player and a manager and nine in charge of Finn Harps, so Donegal is a place that holds dear for me.”