Glen Rovers recruit Donal O'Rourke as coach for coming season
Donal O'Rourke, who will combine coaching roles with Waterford and Glen Rovers in 2026. Picture: Inpho
Donal O’Rourke is set to serve as coach to the Glen Rovers senior hurling team for the coming year.
The native of Cappaquin, Co. Waterford operated in a similar capacity for the past three season as part of Pat Ryan’s Cork management team. He had already been enlisted by Waterford manager Peter Queally for 2026 but the split-season will help him to combine the Déise role with helping to guide the fortunes of the Glen.
Tommy Dunne, who captained Tipperary to win the 2001 All-Ireland and was coach as the Premier County won the Liam MacCarthy Cup in 2019, had been the Glen’s coach for the past two years, coming on board in 2024 as they secured an immediate return to premier senior after relegation.
Now, with the Toomevara man having moved on, Glen manager Tomás Mulcahy has managed to attract another well-regarded operator to Blackpool as they seek to build on their quarter-final appearance of last year. O’Rourke, who spent part of his playing days with Sarsfields in Cork, previously coached Erin’s Own while he was involved with the Galway All-Ireland-winning camogie team in 2021.
As well as Cork senior squad members Robert and Eoin Downey and Michéal Mullins, as well as the recently retired Patrick Horgan, the Glen have a talented crop of young players, with the stars of the 2021, 2023 and 2024 minor sides being absorbed into the premier senior squad, some by way of the side that reached the premier junior final last year.
In addition to O’Rourke, the Glen will also benefit from the input of Ian Jones this year. The Bishopstown man, who has been the Cork strength and conditioning coach since the start of the 2024 campaign, will provide similar expertise to the northside club.
His portfolio includes stints working with Hockey Ireland, London Welsh RFC, USA Rugby, Penn State University, NFL sides the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans as well as the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football, Wagner College and the University of New Orleans.
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