Dylan McGlade can be the difference as Cobh face into what could be a historic run-in 

Dylan McGlade was born in Dublin and spent the majority of his sporting life moving around, bringing him from Longford Town to Victoria in Austrailia.

There was even a pit stop in England, where he lined out with Blyth Spartans in National League North.

Yet somehow, it feels like there’s a part of him that is tied to Cork following his spell with the Rebel Army and his current run of form with Cobh Ramblers.

The winger originally went south at the turn of 2019 in 2020 as one of the statement signings during Neale Fenn’s tenure at Turner’s Cross, an ill-fated experiment that ended in relegation during a COVID enforced lockdown that had supporters watching on their phones at home.

It was a horrible time for the club, and things got worse when their return to the First Division was marked by winless runs and a sixth place finish.

McGlade preserved and finally got his moment by scoring a hat-trick as City kickstarted their promotion winning campaign with an emphatic 6-1 victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carsile Grounds in February 2022.

The winger did get injured in the next game against Galway United, but he recovered to finish the campaign with four goals and five assists.

The Dubliner chose a fresh challenge after lifting the First Division title, and opted for life in Australia.

McGlade enjoyed his time Down Under, but when the opportunity to play a game that ‘means something’ came up, he could not say no.

“I was actually thinking about it towards the start of the season,” he said.

“I spoke with a few people and things did not materialise, but I missed the feeling of playing for something that means something. 

"That kind of thing. The football over in Australia is good with professionalism and demand, you do feel like you are playing for something.

“The opportunity came up through Richie [Holland] and it was something that I had to jump at. 

"I can always go over in a couple of years but you know what, I still had a bit in me and I wanted to do something.” 

The funny thing is, St Colman’s Park is a world away from the warmth and eternal summer of Austrailia, not that McGlade minds.

“That is perfect weather for football – once the wind went away that little bit of slickness is there,” he said.

“It was good. It is just good to play in something, like I said, we’re chasing and we’re going to be up around there. 

"We’re just waiting for our opportunity. That is more of what it was for me. I just wanted to be playing for something that [meant something].” McGlade was eased into a Cobh team that is pushing for a first league title since 2007, under the tutelage of former Colombia and Qatar coach Mick McDermott. 

The reason for his signing was to give the club an added edge in the final third as they hunted Dundalk down through the run-in, and despite some near misses, the winger came good by getting two goals against Treaty United at St Colman’s Park.

The brace began with a typical McGlade finish, as he escaped his marker and fired in at the far post. 

The second was something similar, this time it involved a low pass from Rhys Gourdie at the Liam McMahon Stand in the 49th minute.

This effectively got the game over the line for Cobh, as McDermott’s side were navigating an tricky Munster Derby that involved taking on an opponent that had beaten them last time out in Limerick.

This was why McGlade was drafted in, as the club needed someone to make a difference in the final third through the run-in.

The Ramblers already had a talented group, the thing was adding quality and numbers after seven squad players left at various stages during the first half of the season.

McGlade was brought in to add something else, by translating his reputation for close control and finesse into moments that could get Cobh over the line.

The winger now feels and looks at home, despite his accent sounding a bit different to everyone else. 

Now it is all about figuring out what that ‘something’ means.