An Interview - Johnny Glynn

As FAI Cup Final heroes go, Johnny Glynn sparkles amongst those of the past 25 years. In a recent interview, Johnny looks back at his playing career and coaching involvement with various codes.      

Tommy Lally signed Glynn for Galway United’s 1984/85 season, coinciding with the local teenager’s upcoming Leaving Cert: “I wasn’t academic at 17, so not a difficult juggling act. I just concentrated on football.”

During the young striker’s maiden year, Galway lost the FAI Cup Final to Shamrock Rovers, who also claimed the following season’s inaugural Premier Division ahead of The Tribesmen. However, there was consolation in the 1986 League Cup Final, as the westerners beat Dundalk 2-0.

After earning a Boston University soccer scholarship, the Galwegian top scored at that level, but never strived for a career Stateside: “The US league wasn’t as strong as now. Apart from my mother being ill, I enjoyed playing in the League of Ireland. The American university season is only three-four months ... That was another factor in coming home.”

On return, Johnny joined Shamrock Rovers, debuting as a substitute in 1987’s League Cup Final defeat to Dundalk. The Hoops gained revenge that season by capturing the title and overcoming the Lilywhites in a 3-0 FAI Cup Final triumph: “Rovers were dominant, like Dundalk today and had an excellent team.”

Linking up again with Tommy Lally, this time at Sligo Rovers, Glynn became leading scorer, but knee complications disrupted the following 18 months.

Reappearing at Terryland Park, Johnny famously notched a late winner in 1991’s historic 1-0 FAI Cup Final victory over Shamrock Rovers: “It’s only years later you appreciate captaining and scoring the winner for your hometown team ... A fantastic moment and the highlight of my playing career.”

While holidaying Stateside that summer, Glynn almost made his international debut, but not quite: “I brought my gear for some off-season training. The Irish team were on the same flight, so the next day I went to their hotel and met The Irish Times’ Peter Byrne. He called Jack Charlton over, who asked if I had my boots. He invited me to train and stay with them, and I was on the bench against the USA. Ireland was winning 1-0 and I warmed up to come on. America scored and I was told to sit down.”

The coveted forward then joined Cork City, losing to Bohemians in 1992’s FAI Cup decider. The subsequent season witnessed an unprecedented title success. Following a three-way tie, two round-robin series finally separated Cork from The Gypsies and Shelbourne: “We had an excellent squad and mindset going into those games, with no shortage of belief we were going to win.”

In 1993, Johnny attended University of Limerick, eventually graduating with honours in Sports Science: “I was working in Galway, playing for Cork, applied, got in and left my job to pursue that. I got educated late, but one of the best decisions I ever made.”

Glynn dispensed the crucial goal in a 1993/94 UEFA Champions League qualifier V Cwmbran Town. He also participated in Cork’s subsequent commendable displays against Galatasaray, including a narrow 1-2 reverse at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

“Galatasaray were beginning a big period in their history, beating Manchester United in the following round. It was intimidating in Hell, as they called it.”

Johnny signed for St Patrick’s Athletic in 1995 and with his remaining ‘Inchicore Four’ members (Noel Mernagh, Peter Carpenter and Ricky O’Flaherty), contributed to the Dublin club clinching that season’s top spot, but ultimately losing 1996’s FAI Cup Final replay to Shelbourne: “Brian Kerr and Pat Dolan were bringing Galway players into St Pat’s and wanted me as well. The Galway lads were all born within 500 yards of each other.”

Also at St Patrick’s Athletic, Glynn played Slovan Bratislava in the UEFA Cup, nearly joining them until an unexpected discovery: “I had played great against Bratislava in the first leg. They asked our chairman my age. He said 26, but I was 29. They signed me on the Richmond Park pitch, but later realised that I was almost 30 and the deal was off.”

Seeking a fresh challenge, Johnny left for FK Haugesund in Norway, but then got loaned out to the lower divisions. Scoring goals aplenty, he excelled in his new surroundings.

“I was looking to play abroad and got a trial in Norway. The Bosman Rule had just arrived and I went there on that. They delivered a one-year contract, sent me to a third-tier club, but it was a great learning environment. I trained full-time, benefitting from being in good shape when I re-signed for Cork.”

One last FAI Cup Final winner’s medal ensued in 1998 for the Galwegian, as Cork defeated Shelbourne 1-0 in a replay. Upon retirement, Glynn enjoyed numerous roles with Connacht rugby, Galway GAA and the Clare hurlers, absorbing novel coaching methods. “There’s a contrast between the different groups, but it gave me an insight into working with good managers.”

Johnny’s first managerial appointment came at Mervue United, where he guided them to a Premier Division promotion play-off loss to Longford Town: “Mervue gave me an opportunity to manage in the League of Ireland. Plenty of players came through there, progressing to a higher level. It was a chance for me to develop youngsters and re-build teams over time.” 

Almost a year into his current role as Galway United’s U-19 manager, is Glynn ambitious to fill a future senior League of Ireland hot seat vacancy? “I teach at Galway Technical Institute, where there’s a football course. Some Galway U-19 players are in those classes. I’m getting more coaching hours, working with good youngsters and happy with doing that at the moment.