STRAINING AT THE LAOIS
Glynn eager that Galway forget about past failings
WHEN Jonathan Glynn first joined the Galway senior hurling panel, he says it was merely to make up numbers for the in-house training games. ‘A complete surprise’ is how he describes the phone call out of the blue from manager Anthony Cunningham in the spring of 2012.
Within a month, the Ardrahan teenager was firing over a crucial extra-time point in a short, but stunningly-effective cameo in the Division 1 relegation play-off against Dublin. Winning the relegation final replay a week later proved to be the making of the team and by mid-June, he was part of the first Galway team to win a Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
To those who question its value for a county west of the Shannon, he has a simple answer. ‘It was mighty to win a trophy. First Leinster, a serious achievement. But it’s great to win anything. If it was only under16C, it’s great to win. We were training hard and had the luck too.
‘On the day, everything went well. If that happens for any team they’ll win well – it doesn’t matter who you’re playing. But who won the All-Ireland that year? Kilkenny came back and did it.’
For a while, his timing looked absolutely perfect, his introduction in the League playoff against Dublin the perfect example.
‘I was only on the pitch a minute or two the first day. Got a point, a poxy point – couldn’t miss it. I was just lucky to get the chance, have been there ever since and want to push on now. I suppose when you get your chance you have to take it.’
However, Kilkenny made sure there was to be no fairytale finish to the season. The final could have swung either way, Galway storming ahead only for the holders to show all their experience to hit the front late on, a Joe Canning free needed right at the death to force a replay.
‘We were lucky to get another chance – and we were unlucky not to win it at the same time,’ he says. ‘You’d be wishing you’d get to turn back time and win by some margin but you can’t. I’d never played a match in front of that many people before. Great experience. A big day. But it comes and goes so quick.’
The result in the replay continued Galway’s tale of woe at senior level. ‘You have to look ahead,’ counters Glynn. ‘You might as well forget about it. That’s two years ago now.’
Over the last 20 years, the levels of success enjoyed by the county at minor and under-21 level, as well as club triumphs on the national scene, makes the senior drought, dating back to Conor Hayes lifting the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 1988, so hard to swallow.
As an ambassador for the Bord Gáis Energy Under-21 Championship, Glynn is part of the new generation unconcerned with historical baggage. ‘I can’t comment on a team from 10 years ago,’ he says of Galway’s modern failings. ‘I’m only on the scene three years. Everyone in the last three years is training hard, trying your best and hoping you’ll get the bit of luck.
‘We’ve won a few at under-21 level but I remember back, 2005, 2006, playing Kilkenny and Galway got serious luck that day. Same in 2011 when they beat Limerick.
‘Even ourselves, we won the minor in 2011. Played Clare. Very lucky to come through that game.’
But luck doesn’t account for the county’s wealth of success at underage level – and the glaring gap in the CV at senior level.
This afternoon in the Leinster Championship, it won’t be easy against a Laois side who have built a solid League campaign in Division 1B around a well-organised defensive system. With that in mind, Glynn’s powerful physical presence could be an important outlet.
Some expect Galway to win, and win well, but the corresponding fixture last summer saw Laois hit 1-13 and give them a proper fright.
‘We played Laois last year in the first round and they gave an exhibition. They played very well. Could have beat us – should have beat us. We want to be getting things right.’
He has just finished up in Univer- sity of Limerick after sitting his final exams in construction management and civil engineering. His time in the college brought him close to some of the Clare players who featured on the All-Ireland winning team such as All Star Podge Collins, Conor Ryan, Séadna Morey and Jack Browne.
Still, those friendships didn’t make it any easier to take when the Banner beat Galway in last July’s All- Ireland quarter-final, a late goal from Glynn failing to affect the final outcome.
‘What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,’ says Glynn smiling when asked if there was much banter when college resumed after the summer break.
‘Ah they’re all sound. I couldn’t say anything against them.
‘Watching the matches last year, they hurled unbelievable. They’re fit, they stay going for the full 70 minutes. The hurling they produce is 100-miles-an-hour all the time. Serious, serious stuff.’
In 2012, Galway were meant to be the new Clare, complete with a distinct patter of play and defensive sweeper at the back. Instead of pushing on though, 2013 was a writeoff, a 12-point defeat by Dublin in the Leinster final proving to be the low point.
Whereas Galway still get a straight bye into the All-Ireland semi-finals at under-21 level, Glynn prefers the senior system. ‘I like being put into Leinster and having to fight for it.’
Laois will certainly make them do just that.