JOHNNY BE GOOD
Tribe skipper Whelan a massive fan of Glynn
CONOR WHELAN is hoping the planets align to allow Johnny Glynn to reboot his Galway career this year.
Glynn, who was part of the 2017 All-ireland winning side, has been largely based in New York for the last number of years though returned to play for his club, Ardrahan, last summer and has been training with the Galway team of late.
Whelan explained that Glynn flew back to New York this week but that he may yet be in a position to make himself available to Tribe boss Henry Shefflin for the Championship.
“Johnny’s a phenomenal guy,” said the Galway captain, who is suspended for tomorrow’s clash with Limerick. “I won an All-ireland with him in 2017 and know him personally as a friend as well.
“We’ve always stayed in contact. He has lots of friends in the group. He played very well for his club last year. The guys wanted to see what he had to offer.
“He’s in very good shape. We’re hoping he’s going to be part of the group.”
Although he has lined out for New York footballers in recent years, Glynn last played for Galway in 2019 having divided his time between
Ireland and the US, but Whelan intimated that he’d have to base himself on this side of the Atlantic if he is to make a contribution with Galway this year.
He said: “Obviously, he’s living over in New York. He’d probably want to move home to give him the best chance of playing but there’s lots of moving parts to that.
“He’s planning on being part of the group. Having him there alone and having his influence will be massive for us as well.”
Whelan made his senior debut for
Galway in the 2015 All-ireland quarter-final win over Cork, when he and Glynn scored 1-2 apiece but the latter’s long, mazy run for his goal and subsequent f-bomb interview on live television somewhat overshadowed the then teenager’s breakthrough. “He didn’t have the media training done then,” Whelan laughed.
“When I started out playing with Galway, he was very good to me. I’m looking forward to him coming back. He offers a lot of experience. You can’t pick them lads up off the side of a road.”
Johnny is still in very good shape. Having him around will be massive for the whole group