French wizard

FROM ELEVEN-A-SIDE.COM
United pin hopes on Frenchman

June 22, 2004

Galway United striker Barry Moran may the club�s top scorer and the man asked to fill Alan Murphy�s boots this season, but the pressure of carrying that tag has been lifted slightly by the arrival of French man Damien Dupay at the club.

Dupay made the headlines in his first match for United when he scored the two goals in a 2-1 win over Kilkenny City a fortnight ago, the first of which is a contender for goal of the season.

The Montpellier native plied his trade in the French fourth division before moving to Ireland last December and beginning work as a bar man in a pub in Limerick city.

Following unsuccessful trials with both Limerick and Cork City, the 25-year-old stumbled upon Galway United purely by accident as he attended the Connacht v. Narbonne rugby match at Galway Sports ground on January 31st.

After having a conversation with someone at the match who told Dupay to talk to United manager Tony Mannion, the striker did just so and the rest as the say is history.

Dupay is on a one-year contract with the Tribesmen and following his two goal haul against Kilkenny and impressive displays against Sligo Rovers and Limerick last weekend looks set for a long term stay with the club, especially if he can help fire them into the Premier Division.