Fury FC's two Irish players weren't racing out for a few pints of Guinness after training Tuesday.

While both captain Richie Ryan and defender Colin Falvey agree that their years of raucous St. Patrick's Day celebrating were mostly behind them, newcomer Falvey had no problem with everyone getting a little Irish on Tuesday.

Just keep the green beer away from him. A true Irishman, after all, is all about the Guinness.

"Since I've been in North American a lot of people have told me about this green beer and I've seen people drink it and it looks terrible," Falvey said after wrapping up Tuesday's training camp session in Gatineau. "You wouldn't get served that back home."

Though Falvey may be more closely tied to the true meaning of St. Patrick's Day, he appreciates it as the big party it has become, too.

"St. Patrick was credited with bringing Christianity to the island, that's the real meaning behind it, but obviously the Irish are known as a fun crowd."

So he doesn't mind the Irish posers that pop up every March 17?

"You don't have to have any Irish at all in you, other than maybe a Guinness or two," said Falvey, resigned to the fact that Fury's friendly in Montreal on Friday meant a subdued celebration for him this week.

"I'm a big believer in time and place. If it was the right time and the right place, well it doesn't matter the place, but if it was the right time, I'd be definitely getting involved and enjoying it."

PEISER EXPECTING BIG SEASON

When Romuald Peiser was signed mid-season by Fury FC last year, he had to get used to more than just a new team.

The artificial turf, the country and the style of play were all new to the 36-year-old goalkeeper and native of Phalsbourg, France, who played six years in the Portuguese Primeira Liga before taking a chance on Ottawa.

This year, Peiser, who came up through the Paris Saint-Germain youth system, is set up in Ottawa and has spent the last few months training with Fury's human performance department, led by Kyle Thorne.

"It changes everything," Peiser said Tuesday of having time to prepare before going into the pre-season, which he also didn't have the luxury of last year. "When I got here last year I was extremely tired for the first two, three weeks.

"I'm coming in with a good base and that helps a lot. It's been a long time since I've felt this good."

And that's good news for Fury, which figures to rely heavily this year on Peiser, arguably one of the best keepers in the NASL, who played more than 10,000 minutes in 112 appearances in Portugal split between Naval and Académica. He will be pushed by 23-year-old Canadian keeper Marcel DeBellis, with whom he has quickly developed a good relationship.

While Richie Ryan will wear the captain's armband again this season, Peiser will be relied not only to keep the ball out of Fury's net but also as a key piece of the leadership group. He's a vocal presence in net and is intensely competitive, with coach Marc Dos Santos having said that Peiser would spend an hour in his office after losses going over game tape.

Coming to Ottawa was no small decision for Peiser and his family. He's not making nearly as much money as he was in Portugal but wanted to try something new. He smiled when asked how big a paycut he took coming to Canada.

"Not a small one, it was a lot," he said. "I'm very happy to be here. Whether I make a bit more or a bit less, that's not going to make it so I don't have to work after my (playing) career. If I was getting millions, maybe I'd still be in Europe, but it's not like having a few more dollars in the bank will change my life."

Peiser isn't sure how long he'll keep playing, but he doesn't dwell too much on that, either. At some point, he says, he wants to coach and could see himself remaining in Canada to do that.

"At my age, it's my body that will decide" when to hang up his boots, he said.

"As long as I can perform for the team and don't have injuries, I'll keep playing. There will be a time when the body doesn't want to do it anymore but hopefully that won't happen for a while."

ROSTER SPOT OPEN

With the departure of defender Omar Jarun, Fury FC has an open roster spot.

But while Dos Santos is keeping an eye out and is open to adding a player, he's not in a hurry.

"For now, this will be our squad leading into the spring season," Dos Santos said Tuesday, adding that may include the addition of a player or two from Fury's youth academy. "We still have a spot to fill, we're still looking for another player in another position, not a centre back.

"That being said we don't want to fill it up with just any kind of player. If it's a player that we think is going to bring a plus to this team, we'll make a move."

One player Fury won't be signing is Australian defender Matthew Foschini, who has been training with the club. While Dos Santos likes what he's seen from the 24-year-old and said he'd sign him if he was a North American player, Fury doesn't have room for another international player.

Twitter: @chrishofley