Brennan a Shels fan with strong ties to Dundalk
GER Brennan may have strong links to both Louth GAA and Dundalk FC but he is very much rooting for Shelbourne ahead of Friday night’s Premier Division clash at Tolka Park.
The two-time All-Ireland SFC medallist is currently in charge of the Wee county’s senior Gaelic football team but hails from “a soccer family” and was more accustomed to having the ball at his feet during his childhood.
A nephew of former Republic of Ireland international Fran Brennan (inset), who had two spells at Shels as well as playing for and managing Dundalk, the retired Dublin defender has fond memories of following the Reds during their most successful decade, between 1996 and 2006.
“I’ve always been a Shelbourne supporter,” he said.
“My Da would have brought me to a lot of games and my brother, John, is still involved as the PRO for the committee. He goes to all the games and there is a group of fellas around his age – about 34 or 35 – who would have gone to all the matches when Shels were in the doldrums and organised buses, etc.
“We would have been at games every Friday growing up. I live about a 10-minute walk from Tolka Park. With my uncle Fran having the career he had, we’d have been a big soccer family and I only started playing Gaelic when I was 13.
“We were playing soccer with Belvedere before that in the Premier DDSL. I’m one of four brothers and we all played soccer as the main sport but I wasn’t skilful enough for the soccer so I ended up playing Gaelic…
“For the club to be doing so well now and for someone like Damien Duff to be in charge, he’s really galvanising the whole club and the lads are thrilled about how it’s going.”
HIGH POINT
Shels won five league titles across a seven-year spell until suffering relegation having fallen into financial difficulty but Brennan can fondly recall the era where Ollie Byrne bankrolled the 13-time League of Ireland champions
The high point of the club’s trophy-laden era was arguably the Champions League qualifier matches with Deportivo La Coruna in 2004, when Shels famously drew with the La Liga giants at a packed Lansdowne
Road before suffering defeat in the second leg.
Though Brennan missed out on the Spanish odyssey having, by then, come to the notice of Dublin’s development squad selectors.
“I remember going to Rugby Park for the game with Kilmarnock (European Cup Winners’ Cup, 1997),” he added. “I was playing with Dublin at underage when they played Deportivo so my Da and brothers went over to that, which seems to have been an amazing experience.
“All the wheeling and dealing at the time, Ollie Byrne, Lord rest him, and all he was doing to keep the club up. It was a great journey and I’ve great memories of being on the pitch at half-time and running around Tolka Park, trying to blag a few sweets out of the tuck shop.
“It’s great that the buzz is back around the club now. It’s going to be a long season and (Shamrock) Rovers started in a similar fashion last year but recovered to win the title. I watched their match against Galway recently and they won and have only lost once – to Shelbourne – this year.
“I think it’s about consistency with the Friday-Monday nature of the league and the length of the season. Hopefully Shels can keep it going.
“I went to a few of the UCD games last year. With working over there, I went along to support and I hope to get to a few more games. But I’ve four kids at home and have to keep the good lady happy.”
KEEN GOLFER
As for Fran, who won a league winners’ medal with Dundalk in 1967 before stepping into the Oriel Park dugout for a period, Brennan admits his uncle has been a guiding influence over his career, albeit in a different code.
“When I was coming up the ranks with the Gaelic, he was a great advisor to me and particularly to my Dad in terms of what to say.
“You were growing up in the north inner city and there’s lots of distractions there and lads who I was in school with have gone on different paths. They always kept me on the straight and narrow. Sport and Gaelic games keeps you on the straight and narrow.
“My uncle Fran has been a great support. He’s 84 but still plays golf and is in great shape. He lives a good lifestyle and has a very balanced and wholesome way of living, so he’s a great example in that way.”