Vale-born Celtic star Ryan Conroy completes loan move to Partick

Published 19 Jan 2010 13:00 0 Comments

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FIRST-TEAM OPPORTUNITY: Ryan Conroy is ready to prove he is good enough for first-team football

RYAN Conroy hopes to prove a point during his dream loan move to Partick Thistle.

The Vale-of-Leven born Celtic player, comfortable at either left-back or left midfield, singed for the Parkhead club at 16 in 2005 and impressed as a youth for the Hoops, but has so far failed to make an impact in the first-team squad.

The paperwork on Conroy's loan move to Firhill from Celtic was completed on Thursday.

He made his debut on Saturday in Partick's 1-0 away loss to Raith Rovers, starting and playing the full 90 minutes.

Conroy though made his first appearance in Thistle colours, at left back, in a closed- doors friendly with Stirling Albion at Firhill last Tuesday evening and acquitted himself well.

Conroy, 22, progressed through the youth set up at Parkhead, making the first of his two first team appearances for Celtic against Falkirk in December 2007.

Conroy has been capped at various youth levels for Scotland, including under-20 and under-21 level.

He aims to build up first-team experience at Firhill and help the Jags in their quest for promotion to the SPL.

Conroy was beaming after joining Ian McCall's side and said: "I am delighted to sign for Partick and I am hoping to get a few first-team games and play in front of big crowds every week. I want to show that I can play under pressure and prove that I can perform in the first team consistently.

"It is important to get plenty of experience in the first team and to get myself noticed.

"I felt I had been playing reserve football at Celtic for long enough and that's why I wanted to move away on loan.

"I spoke to Ian McCall and I was impressed with what he had to say - that is really what convinced me to sign.

"I have only had a few training sessions so far but they have gone well."

Conroy wasn't put off dropping down a division and reckons First Division teams such as Thistle could hold their own in Scottish football's top flight.

He said: "I am here until the end of the season and it would be great to be in a team who were promoted.

"There is not a huge difference between the top of the First Division and the SPL.

"Teams like Dunfermline have gone down and are still in the division so it is a hard league.

"Obviously Dundee are the main challenge for us and hopefully they will drop a few points. We just need to keep on winning games."

Jags boss Ian McCall said: "Ryan played in a closed-doors friendly with Stirling Albion at Firhill on Tuesday evening and did really well so I am delighted to have him on board."

This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 19 Jan 10

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