Every little detail will matter for the Connacht Football Association as their squad prepares for the 2026 FAI Amateur Inter-Provincial Tournament.

It is why Head Coach Ollie Neary wants to lean on experience as much as possible. From selecting a strong squad bulked up by 10 members of the Galway FA side that lifted the FAI Oscar Traynor Cup in February to shaping a veteran support staff, Connacht are in a good place.

Neary will be able to call on long-time Assistant Coach Damien Coach and Goalkeeping Coach Tom Lally, while he has also recruited Brendan O’Connor as additional support for their three games over as many days in Donegal.

“We’ve brought in, hopefully, a good amount of experience to help the players. I played together with Brendan (O’Connor) and really trust him, while Damien (Brennan) has been working alongside me for the last 12 years with the League of Ireland Under-17s and with Mervue United. It’s so important to have another set of eyes.

“The only advantage that we might have is the continuity from the Oscar Traynor squad because a lot of them would have played five or six games together. It doesn’t mean that we are just going to put out the Oscar Traynor team from the start, but there is a bit of buy-in, they know what they have achieved together and hopefully that will stand to us.

“It’s also a plus that we have such quality players coming in from outside of Galway. I’ve always been impressed by the level of lads from Sligo and Mayo. So I think they will add to our squad too and hopefully get us over the line. We have some very good players in our squad.”

Connacht have looked to make the most of every moment that they can get together, even training on the morning of St. Patrick’s Day. It is an approach that Neary hopes will benefit the squad as they set get to take on Leinster, Munster and Ulster.

Along with the chance of competing against the best amateur players in the country, Connacht also know that a successful weekend could lead them to becoming Ireland’s representative team in the UEFA Regions’ Cup – something that Neary has reminded them of.

“It’s another incentive for the players. We know that some of the players with Munster and Leinster are playing at a very high level, but you have to get the right formula on the pitch and you just don’t know on any given day how it might go. It’s up to us to perform,” he said.

“It’s a great experience for the players. They have the opportunity to represent their province. For a lot of the lads it is a taste of what a professional set-up feels like because there is so much added to these games and the prize is to go on to represent your country. It’s a great occasion and it will be gone in a blink of an eye, but the lads can always say that they played for Connacht so we want to go out and do as best as we can.”

Connacht Squad
Goalkeepers: Kieran McDonagh (Moyne Villa), Stefan Hester (Castlebar Celtic)
Defenders: Mark Cunningham (Castlebar Celtic), Liam Murray (Maree Oranmore), Calym Crowe (Salthill Devon), Nathan Ward (Colga), Cathal Coyne (Salthill Devon), Cillian White (Westport United), Jason Devaney (Carbury), Milo O’Malley (Mervue United)
Midfielders: Calum Browne (Colga), Johnnie Cocozza (Castlebar Celtic), Luke Kelly (Casltebar Celtic), Adam Healy (Mervue United), Jamie Cawley (Ballina Town), Donnacha McNamara (Maree Oranmore), Ger O’Riordan (Maree Oranmore)
Forwards: Gavin Smith (Maree Oranmore), Colm Whelan (Maree Oranmore), Dylan O’Malley (Westport United)

Fixtures
Friday, March 20th | Munster FA v Ulster FA, Diamond Park, Ballyare, Donegal, KO 19:00
Friday, March 20th | Leinster FA v Connacht FA, Dry Arch Park, Bonagee, Donegal, KO 19:00
Saturday, March 21st | Ulster FA v Leinster FA, Buncrana Hearts, Donegal, KO 13:00
Saturday, March 21st | Connacht FA v Munster FA, Aileach FC, Inishown, Donegal, KO 13:00
Sunday, March 22nd | Munster FA v Leinster FA, Diamond Park, Ballyare, Donegal, KO 11:00
Sunday, March 22nd | Connacht FA v Ulster FA, Leckview Park, Letterkenny, KO 11:00