**By Cian O'Connell **

In 2008 the future glimmered with promise. Galway were Connacht Champions, and a subsequent All Ireland quarter-final defeat, in a thriller against Kerry, offered further hope that good times were imminent.

Paul Conroy, who captained Galway to minor glory in 2007, was fast tracked into the senior set-up.  “It was my first year in as an 18-year-old, you kind of think it's going to be like this every year, but that hasn't been the way,” Conroy reflects. “It has been a long time since we won Connacht. We had Padraic Joyce, Michael Meehan and them lads all playing back then and it's a new bunch of player playing now so it's important we try to do the same.”

That is why Galway crave silverware. Beating Mayo was a significant boost, but glory and medals are what Galway want now.  “It was great to beat Mayo, but it is important we park it now.

“There's nothing won yet. We have to win silverware. To win a Connacht Championship in your own back yard, that's the key thing to do now. It would give a big lift, it would boost confidence so that's what we're focusing on now.”

Galway have remained positive throughout 2016 suffering only two competitive defeats in a dozen games. “It's very important, people feed off positivity,” is Conroy’s assessment.

“Negativity, when it's around, doesn't do any good for anyone. Our lads are positive and there's a good positive feeling around the camp. That's generated by the management and the players. It's a lot easier place to be. It's a lot happier set up when there is positivity around.”

The versatile Conroy is forging a solid midfield partnership with Tom Flynn. The St James’ man, also capable in attack, is delighted to be playing at centrefield. “I grew up as a young lad playing all my football at midfield,” Conroy said.

“And when I moved on to the senior team, I probably wasn't good enough to play out there so they move you around,” Conroy laughs.

“It's a better sign if you can hold down one position rather than them trying to find a different role for you so hopefully I'll try to stay there now.

“Last year Fiontan [Ó Curraoin/> and Tom [Flynn/> were playing midfield and I was playing at 11 so it was a slightly different role.

“I've a good relationship with Tom, I've played with him for a number of years, I played with him at midfield two years ago.

“Fiontán has been around as well. There's no shortage of midfielders and there's a few new lads after coming is as well that are biting at our heels so it's great to have competitiveness like that.

“It's a key area on the pitch and it's important to have a good relationship with your midfield partner. Tom is playing well, he got a great goal the last day.”

Having suffered Connacht Final disappointment against Mayo in 2009 and 2014 Conroy feels valuable lessons were learned.

“I suppose the disappointment afterwards, not to go through that again. It's hard to take watching another team up there lifting the cup. You don't want to be down on the pitch looking at that so we'll do our best.”

Even when Galway weren’t seriously contesting in the west Conroy kept the faith.  “Mayo over the last couple of years have been among the top one or two teams in the country and they were very unlucky not to win an All-Ireland.

“We were just playing second fiddle watching them on TV for the last couple of years so I suppose you just have to keep going, keep believing, keep working that bit harder. That's what we tried to do and thankfully this year it went well for us and we came out on top.

“You have to keep trying to work hard. If you're not winning there's a reason why you're not winning. You have to change it and work on something different. There was a couple of hard years there. You just have to keep going. It's a great honour to play for your county. You never forget that.”