Sean Friars and JP Gallagher have both been released by the club. Swifts Manager Darren Murphy this week released a statement saying:
…”There were some departures this week from Stangmore Park when Sean Friars and JP Gallagher left. I would like to go on record and say what a pleasure it was to work with Sean, he came in last January and his contribution in keeping us in the league was invaluable. Sean was a great pro and easy to work with, we had a conversation last week regards his first team opportunities and at his age he just wanted to play every week, that was something I could not guarantee him. He did not want to sit on the bench, he just wanted to play, so we agreed the best thing for both parties was to release him. I wish him every success wherever he goes and he is always welcome back to Stangmore. ( Sean, when you do come back to watch a game, make sure you bring your wallet and buy me a beer!). Likewise I would also like to thank JP for his efforts while back at the club, unfortunately I never got the opportunity to work with him this time round due to family circumstances and in the end he needed to be closer to home. JP has been a fantastic servant to this Football club over the years and he too is welcome back any time.”
On being released from the club Sean has really enjoyed his time at, he felt the need to express his thanks to the club and a number of people so he himself has passed on this message of thanks below.
I met with Murph last week and after thinking long and hard about leaving Dungannon Swifts, I have made the very difficult decision to move on. This is purely for football reasons and for what we felt was best for both parties.
I would really like to pay particular thanks to Murph for being so understanding. I’m not getting any younger (even though I look younger than Emmet who’s six years younger than me!), and my football playing days will be coming to an end soon, so all I really want to do is play while I can. Murph understood exactly where I was coming from and we agreed, releasing me would be the best answer all round for both Dungannon Swifts and myself. Thanks Murph and Rod for bringing me to such a good club full of many good people. Anyone who doesn’t get the chance to play for the Swifts in their football career or anyone who turns down the opportunity to play for the Swifts – what a massive loss, Very big loss on their part in fact! Guy’s if you ever get the
opportunity grab it with both hands. Great club! Everyone in the club is so friendly which made it very easy for me to settle in as soon as I arrived. I don’t like to name individuals but a few people who are always around the club that have been more than good and helpful to both me and my family are Simon Graham, Sarah Winslow, Paula Gallagher and Keith Boyd. From those guys, to the grounds men, Mrs McAree and Sharon for keeping me well fed and watered, the supporters, stewards, everybody has been more than kind to me.
Pat McGibbon is a great addition to the management staff at the Club. He’ll do well. Thanks to him, Sailor, Pop, Bobby, Hutchy, Steven and all the rest of the backroom staff. Some of these guys who do various jobs, get no money for it. This is because they are there for the love of the club and the love of football. There are very few people in football now who would do that and this is why I think they are all a bunch of fantastic people with their hearts in exactly the right place. I have no doubts at all that the club will continue to drive forward with people like Joe Mac and Jarlath Faloon working so hard with the extensive amount of enthusiasm they are forever showing. Every club needs a Joe McAree and those kind of people.
Dungannon Swifts may be called a small club with a small fan base but all of the people supporting them are a credit to the club. Through thick and thin, from one end of the country to the other, they will always be there and show all the support to the team that is possible. I got to know quite a number of the supporters during my time at the Swifts but one supporter I have to mention is someone I won’t forget for a very long time – probably because he won’t let me forget him…”WEE JOSH” aka Roy, Dungannon Swifts Head Ball Boy! Wee Josh- named after Josh Cahoon, Why I hear you ask? Well that is obvious to anyone who is lucky enough to know the both of them! Roy rings me and texts me every day just to make sure I am ‘Ok’, Cheers for everything wee man! A few others I’d like to mention are wee Paddy, (without him and Roy at training we’d prob still be running round Dungannon Park or somewhere looking for the balls McMinn kicked ‘out of bounds’!), Colin the steward and his wife…What’s her name again?! Ha..yeah, well her, she’s been brilliant to me! I’d also like to thank the two people that sponsored my shirts this season, Paula who I already mentioned and Mark Williamson. Cheers guys.
I’ll end on a positive note by again thanking Murph for how understanding he has been. He has been one really good fella both on and off the pitch to me. I got on really well with Murph and we actually have become quite close throughout my time as a player. All the best this season buddy and to all the lads, you are one great bunch of players and I hope you will be successful. I’ll always be checking for the Swifts result first when the scores come up, hoping the boys get the right
results.
Thanks for everything Dungannon Swifts Football Club,I wish each and every one of you at the club every success while you are involved with management/ backroom staff/supporting the club. Good luck and thanks for everything.
Sean Friars
We as a Club would like to echo Darren’s sentiments and thank both players for their committed service to the club which has been fantastic throughout. We wish both Sean and JP well in the future and we will welcome them back to Stangmore Park anytime! All the best lads.
