Johnny Glynn; Galway United Legend
As Johnny Glynn offered me his condolences on Leeds failure in yet another play-off final we drifted back to his early foot balling memories. Whether it is a mental block with accepting defeat graciously or advancing years, the powerful former Galway United centre forward could not recall the occasion that ‘My Fairlands Team’ defeated his ‘Mighty Greenfields Team’ in the early eighties. But we did! It was 4-3 and an even bigger upset than when Galway United defeated Shamrock Rovers in the 1991 FAI Cup Final, with match winner Johnny Glynn captaining his home town team. Johnny started his playing career at Corrib Shamrocks at 8 years of age representing them in juvenile football until he was 17 when he followed another local legend Gerry Mullan to Terryland. Tommy Lally signed him in the 1984-85 season; while he was studying for his Leaving Cert; and the youngster lined out in the FAI Cup Final against Shamrock Rovers. Unfortunately the ‘Hoops’ won that day, but ‘The Tribesmen’ continued to press their Dublin rivals by finishing runners-up to them in the League and going down to a penalty shoot-out against Dundalk in the League Cup Final the following season!
Many of Johnny’s family had moved to the U.S.A and in 1986 the young Galway man was awarded a soccer scholarship at Boston University. He was top scorer at Boston University but decided to come home after 1 year returning to the League of Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers in 1987. His first match there was in the League Cup Final against Dundalk and he also helped Rovers win the League and Cup Double. This was Rovers 4th title on the trot! “It was the last season at Glenmalure Park and nice to be part of the famous ‘4 in a row’ team.” After his spell with ‘The Hoops’ he linked up with his old mentor Tommy Lally at Sligo Rovers where he was leading goal scorer, but unfortunately a knee injury curtailed his season and he spent most of the next 18 months on the sidelines. During that period John Herrick resigned Johnny for Galway United, but due to prolonged injuries he hardly played under the Cork man or the next two managers Seamus McDonagh and Paul McGee. However he returned to full strength under Joey Malone and captained the victorious Galway team to glory over Shamrock Rovers in 1991. That summer he was back in Boston on holidays when he decided to bring his sister to see the Irish team training. Peter Byrne, a reporter with the Irish Times, spotted him and introduced him to Jack Charlton. Niall Quinn was injured and the Irish squad needed a striker. “Did you bring your boots lad?” asked the Ireland boss. “I always bring my boots everywhere,” he replied. Right answer! The cup winning goal scorer joined the squad for training and sat on the bench for the international match versus U.S.A. He was later told that Charlton had seen him play the semi-final and final of the cup a few weeks earlier and considered calling him up to the Ireland squad for a friendly with Chile. “Interestingly enough I had gone to Newcastle United on trial a few years earlier when Jack was manager. I felt things were going well but he left before my month’s trial was up.” Then again Jack did always like big Centre-forwards like Quinn and Cascarino. So who knows what might have transpired had ‘Big Jack’ not departed the Newcastle job so abruptly!
On returning from the States Johnny sought new challenges and he joined Cork City in 1991. They were Cup finalists in 1992 and won the League the following season. “This was the year of the 3-way-tie between Shelbourne, Bohs and us. Cork emerged triumphant.” During their European cup campaign the following season Johnny scored the winning goal against Cwmbran Town to help Cork qualify to play Galatasary. The Turkish side won 3-1 on aggregate and subsequently knocked Manchester United out in the next round. That season Cork were runners up in the league. The in-demand striker joined St Patricks Athletic in 1995 and along with Noel Mernagh, Peter Carpenter and Ricky O Flaherty became known as “the Inchicore 4” as the ex-Galway players delivered the league title to Pats in 1996. They narrowly failed to land the double losing an FAI Cup Final replay. As well as plying his trade in the League of Ireland Johnny worked at Digital which he left in 1993 to Study Sport Science full time at the University of Limerick, where he graduated with honours in 1997. In 1996 St. Pats played Slovan Bratislava in an incredible European tie. “They were 3-0 up at half-time and we stormed out to level it at 3-3 before they nicked it 4-3 at the death.” After the second leg the Slovakian team were keen to sign him and they returned to do a deal with St Pats after the second leg. Terms were agreed and photos taken at Inchicore, the Slovakians were led to believe that Johnny was only 26 so when they inspected his passport the deal was called off. “However later that season a Norwegian side FK. Haugesund signed me. They were in Norway’s premier division and loaned me out to FC Dravl where I scored lots of goals and learned the language.” When I quizzed Johnny about the age factor I got the impression that like another former Galway great that the paperwork may have been slightly altered to facilitate that insignificant factor! Johnny returned to Cork City in 1998 and featured in yet another FAI Cup Final winning team before hanging up his boots two years later.
From 1999 to 2001 Johnny worked for the IRFU as Connacht Fitness Adviser. He also worked with the Galway footballers and hurlers in 2001. In 2002-03 he was on the coaching staff at St. Pats as they won the League and the following season reached the cup final. What is it about Johnny Glynn and FAI Cup Finals? Perhaps they should rename the trophy? In his time with the Clare hurlers between 2003-06 they reached two All-Ireland semi-finals. “I was very impressed by their dedication, commitment and sheer willpower to win because it meant everything to them!” Last season Johnny was brought onto the Derry coaching staff by Pat Fenlon and stayed on under John Robertson when Fenlon departed.
Johnny Glynn’s latest challenge is as manager of Mervue who enter the inaugural ‘A League’ in June. “I will be working with Mark Herrick and Brendan O Connor and using the opportunity to try and build a team, by developing local talent.” He is currently studying for his U.E.F.A. ‘A’ Licence and will no doubt be putting his experience in the field of Sports Science to great use. I am keen to build on and develop as much local talent as possible, Mervue have very good structures and facilities. There are 9 teams in our section: the reserve teams from Derry, Finn Harps, Dundalk, Drogheda, Bohs, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo along with Salthill Devon and us. If Devon or Mervue finish in the top 4 we get to play-off against the other section for the right to challenge the bottom team in the First Division. However this is a new venture and hopefully the FAI will give it the support that it requires to succeed and develop. Overall the standard in the League of Ireland is slowly progressing and the FAI have an Emerging Talent Programme for 13 to 15 year olds. This is a start but needs a lot more attention if it is going to bring about the change that is needed to help us compete in Europe.” Johnny has been involved with high performance athletes in many sports and it will be interesting to follow his progress at Mervue. As I wish Johnny Glynn and fellow Galway United Legend Mark Herrick the very best for the forthcoming season I look ahead to next season when Mervue will be competing in the FAI Cup. With their manager’s history in this event anything is possible!
Mike Geraghty (mgwords.com)