Dean Brosnan: We need to get the Glen back to where they belong

Dean Brosnan has pretty much seen it all playing for Glen Rovers.

The forward have been through the highs and lows and this Sunday, the famed Blackpool club face Blarney in the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC final in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (2.15pm).

Glen Rovers, with 27 top flight Cork hurling crowns, lost their place in the top tier last year for the first time in 97 years after losing to Kanturk in the relegation play-off. It sent shockwaves around Leeside and further afield, but they have bounced back admirably and are now potentially 60 minutes away from returning to the Premier Senior level.

Brosnan will play in his eight county final for the Glen first team at the weekend. He has been on the winning side twice, which was back in 2015 and ’16 when the city side won back-to-back titles. One of the biggest clubs in Cork are on the rise again, 13 months on from the lowest point in the club's history.

“We have been really focusing on the hurt from last year,” the 33-year-old says.

“It has been a driving force for us, no doubt about it. Going into our first championship game this year against Killeagh, we felt we had a point to prove. We were the players that put us into this position and it’s up to us to get the Glen back out of it. The club has been unbelievably supportive to us, so it’s great to have that backing when people could have turned on us very easily.

“That day in Fermoy after losing to Kanturk will stay in my memory for a long time. The hurt was chilling and it was upsetting for everyone in the Glen. To get relegated after 97 years was a tough one to take. Tomás Mulcahy took over this year and we are after bringing in Tommy Dunne from Tipperary as coach. 

"Tommy has been a breath of fresh air. The standard he wants us to get to is unbelievable. He is at a different level. You can see why he achieved what he achieved in the game with his attitude. It was a great find by Tomás to get Tommy on board.” 

Glen Rovers have been hot favourites in every championship game this season, which is understandable, but that does bring its own pressure. The Blackpool-based outfit defeated Killeagh by 13 points then beat Inniscarra and Ballyhea by 17 points in the group stage. It was all done without Patrick Horgan, who was sidelined due to an injury. Hoggie was back for the semi-final two weeks ago, as his side won by six points against Castlelyons.

“Every game this season, we just focused on ourselves and it won’t be any different against Blarney,” Brosnan said.

“We believe we have a very good team that should be up at Premier Senior level, and it’s just a case of concentrating on what we can do and not worrying about the opposition.

“We wouldn’t have been too happy with our performance last day out against Castlelyons. It would have been a game we would have lost last year. It just shows the team unity is after improving. We have enough experience in our dressing room to stay focused.” 

Blarney will be dangerous opposition for the Glen. The Muskerry side lost the final to Newcestown after a replay last year and Brosnan is fully aware of the challenge that is ahead on Sunday.

“It’s the two teams that were probably the favourites at the start of the year. Both teams have three Cork seniors, so it will be an unbelievable game. I am really looking forward to it. There’s extra emphasis on us to right the wrongs from last year. It’s something that is driving us on. We need to get the Glen back to where they belong and that’s in the top tier of Cork hurling.”