Graham Callanan on winning counties with Glen Rovers and his new role as a selector

THERE is little doubt Glen Rovers stalwart Graham Callanan was one of the grittiest hurlers ever produced by the Blackpool club.

Callanan joined the club at a young age and recently when I caught up with him at a senior hurling league game, he reflected on the good old days when his career started at the Glen.

“Back in the day, John Anderson’s mother Betty was looking after the Street Leagues and the amount of kids that played in those leagues was startling.

“My father brought me up and when he couldn’t do it my mother would step in and by God, those days now look well and truly behind us,” he said.

Callanan said there is a lack of numbers, in comparison, across all clubs in the city.

At that time there were hundreds of kids with representations from Blackpool and Gurranabraher and then throw in another few areas you had about eight teams competing.

“I have a cousin involved with Na Piarsaigh and it’s the same up there but when you weigh it all up it shows the decline in attracting new blood to the various clubs,” he added.

Callanan joined the Glen senior team during the 1999 championship but it was not until the following season before he made his debut against Erin’s Own.

Disappointment followed in 2010 when he lined out at centre-back in their first senior championship final in 19 years as they went down to Sarsfields 1-17 to 0-18. Callanan was appointed captain in 2014 but again his side came out on the wrong side of their final clash with Sars when they suffered a heavy defeat 2-18 to 0-8.

Determination is something that Callanan was never short of and he retained the captaincy for the 2015 final and led his team to an impressive 2-17 to 1-13 win over Sars. The Glen once again looked to Callanan’s leadership skills for the 2016 and playing at right wing-back he helped his retain the title when they defeated Erin’s Own 0-19 to 2-10.

When talking about the good old days Callanan couldn’t forget to speak about two players who have since passed away.

“There was Thomas Chisholm and Emmet Neville who died in the space of a short time from one another and I think it's hard to credit their contributions when they donned our jersey.” 

After falling short in finals to Blackrock and Midleton in recent years, the Glen ended up getting relegated to Senior A last season but he is philosophical in summing up that disappointment.

“When you look at the amount of minor and U21 titles we have won... but the truth is because you are exceptional in those grades doesn’t guarantee you to make the grade in the top tier.

“The bottom line is when you lose three or four consecutive games in a championship you deserve to go down and without making excuses our team was no the road longer that it should have been.

“We got on a bad run, and we're traditionally a slow side to get going in the championship, but with the new system you have to be on top of your game when you are playing sides like Blackrock and Midleton." 

Callanan was a squad member with the last Cork hurling team to win Liam MacCarthy, landing the 2004 and 2005 All-Ireland titles.

OFF THE BALL

This season he has joined the management team of Tomás Mulcahy with former teammate David Cunningham and Adam McCarthy doing some coaching they are building up to their opening championship game against Killeagh.

“The reality is that people thought because we had competed in so many county finals that it was all going to fall into place and as a club we have put our hand up and admit we took our eye off the ball.” 

Looking at the Glen playing in recent league games there looks to be a little freshness back in the camp as Callanan believes they will have a battle to win the Senior A championship.

“We had our eyes opened and now we have to relay to the players what it will take to get back playing in the Premier Senior Championship.”

 Getting the squad to finish games stronger will be a firm policy this season but Callanana is happy there is good camaraderie in the camp and the players are focused on the job at hand.

“Last season despite getting relegated we were competitive for 45-50 minutes but that’s not good enough and this season we will be hoping to be at it full belt over the hour.” 

Nowadays he is enjoying retirement with his wife Janice and their two children and in his own words he hasn’t time to miss the hustle and bustle of the sport!

“When you become a father it's full steam ahead and yes I must admit the training sessions I do miss, but for now, it's about passing my experience on to the younger guns."