Cork v Tipp:  'We would dearly love to see Patrick Horgan with an All-Ireland medal'

Glen Rovers is a club steeped in hurling tradition.

Throughout the years, some iconic names in Cork hurling have donned the colours of the Glen, such as Christy Ring and the former taoiseach Jack Lynch.

As Cork gets ready to face Tipperary at Croke Park in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling final, a number of Glen Rovers men could be key to Cork’s chances of securing glory.

As soon as you arrive at the Glen Rovers clubhouse, it becomes apparent that the club is hurling to the core.

On a visit there ahead of the big day on Sunday, The Echo spoke with Glen Rovers chairperson Liam Martin, who said there is huge anticipation growing around the club ahead of the match.

“There is huge excitement building, and it has been building since the last few weeks,” he said.

For years, Glen Rovers’s Patrick Horgan has been one of the top hurlers — not only in Cork but in Ireland.

There are few more players from the Glen on this year’s squad, including captain Robert Downey and his brother Eoin.

Last year, they became the first Cork brothers to feature in the same PWC All-Stars team in 19 years. Mícheál Mullins, who is a former Cork U20 All-Ireland winning captain, also is a member of the Cork senior hurling panel.

“I couldn’t speak more highly of them,” said Martin of the Glen contingent.

“The two Downeys and Patrick were born and reared in the Ballyvolane area here very close to the clubhouse. Mícheál Mullins has joined us from Whitechurch.

“But all have one thing in common, all are fanatics about hurling. Even when they are not involved in training with Cork, they generally speaking are down here when our own senior team at Glen Rovers are training.

“I have seen Rob up on the sideline up in the Mardyke last year with our U16 team.

“They are very committed. The one thing you will see is that every time they appear in the club, even when they are not training, they will have a hurley in their hands. They are always pucking a ball and that was very evident from the time they were very young.

“It is that level of commitment that has brought them to Croke Park on Sunday.”

Should Cork win, there are few in Ireland that will begrudge Patrick Horgan securing an All-Ireland medal.

“He will downplay it himself and I don’t think it is a factor in his thinking,” said Mr Martin.

“But to all of us here in Glen Rovers, we would dearly love to see Patrick departing Croke Park on Sunday with an All-Ireland medal in the bag.

“The only career that is longer than Patrick’s in a Cork jersey, I think, was the great Christy Ring. Patrick is in his 18th year with the senior team. Patrick has been immense to have that kind of a career at inter-county level.”

Right throughout the successes of the Cork hurling team, Glen Rovers are a club that has consistently been strongly represented.

In the coming days, all at the Glen will be hoping Cork captain Downey will get the opportunity to bring back the Liam MacCarthy Cup to the famed Cork club.

“Like all Cork hurling people, we are very looking forward to it. I would love to see Pat Ryan and his management team get to the holy grail at this stage,” Mr Martin added.