For Jack Glynn and his UL teammates winning the Sigerson Cup with be a dream end to his college days.
The Galway player who was crowned Young Footballer of the Year at the All-Stars back in October is hoping to help his college to their first title, having made last year's final.
"We’ve gelled really well as a team, the chemistry and bond is there," Glynn says.
"We’ve had to adapt the way we’re playing but we’re going very well at the moment so hopefully we can continue to push on and see how far we can go."
Despite being rivals at county level, Glynn feels that bonds for life can be created in Sigerson dressing rooms.
"I’ve played my most enjoyable football with college.
"In college you’ve a chance to play with lads from different counties who you would’ve perceived as rivals or people that you’d think you wouldn’t have anything in common with but when you get down to it and you’re playing alongside each other it’s crazy how much common ground you can find and even form close friendships from it.
"I find it very rewarding," he adds.
"It’s an honour to play for your college and to have the chance to play with those lads around you. It’s a special bond you build with the lads, it’s something you’ll have for the rest of your life."
Galway's Jack Glynn is the PwC Young Footballer of the Year for 2022 👏 #PwCAllStars @PwCIreland pic.twitter.com/RKFIfkeiuV
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 28, 2022
The final year Woodwork and Technical Graphics teaching student has been an integral part of the UL team since he started college and despite being such a talent he was nervous when he first made the move to the college setup.
"I remember my first training I was very apprehensive," he recalls.
"Turning up you’d be nervous, you wouldn’t know many of the lads, you wouldn’t have played with a lot of them, so you wouldn’t know how they’d perceive you. The best thing was just getting down into training, you get to know the boys and you’re having the craic.
"Next thing bonds start forming and you go out with the lads a few times after games. That’s how friendships are formed, going to the well as a team. There’ll be friendships I’ll have there for the rest of my life and I really appreciate that."
Jack Glynn on Clifford and Walsh
The tenacious defender had a breakthrough 2022 and has came up against two of the stars of the game in recent months in matches and training; David Clifford and Shane Walsh.
Having faced both, Glynn believes their styles are quite different.
"They’re the best players in the game at the moment but they both have different styles of play," Glynn reveals.
"It’s interesting playing with David and Shane, you’d notice small little things. Shane would be fairly athletic, he could turn you on a half-pence. In terms of David, he’s so smart. It’s very insightful to see how different they are but how good they both are at what they do.
"The reason they’re at the top level of their game is the amount of practice they put in. You’d always see them behind after training taking extra shots and they’re always there before training. Ultimately, they’re players who are driving on the team," he adds.
"They take a leadership role as well along with being standout players. It was a great experience to be able to play with both of them and see how they both operate."
Since coming into the Galway senior panel Glynn has been managed by Pádraic Joyce, who won two All-Ireland's with the Tribesmen as a player, and is widely considered as one of the greatest to play the game in recent decades.
"Pádraic was one of the greatest to wear the Galway jersey," Glynn admits.
"It's special to share a dressing room and get tips from a man who has won All-Irelands and also to have the likes of John Divilly and Cian O'Neill involved, there is a bankfull of experience there.
"You take in everything they say; you're learning from the best."
Jack Glynn will be hoping his UL side can be the best in the country this year and take Sigerson glory in a few weeks time.
Jack Glynn was speaking to media as Electric Ireland teamed up with six intercounty Camogie and GAA stars to look ahead to the upcoming matches and rivalries across the Electric Ireland Camogie Third Level Championships and the Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Championships. Through its #FirstClassRivals campaign, Electric Ireland will continue to celebrate the unexpected alliances that form between county rivals as they come together in pursuit of some of the most coveted titles across Camogie and GAA.
SEE ALSO: 11 Players To Watch Out For In The 2023 Sigerson Cup
