Here come the Glen in black: A history of Blackrock-Glen Rovers colour match-ups

It will be a case of the Glen in black in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday evening.

The colours of the two clubs at the top of the county hurling roll of honour, Blackrock and Glen Rovers, are similar – black joining the green and gold hoops on the Blackpool outfit’s shirts, in honour of those who had died in the fight for Irish independence. 

While there have been instances of under-age or league meetings with both clubs in their usual hoops, such a mix would not be allowed in senior championship, especially when been streamed.

With the sides’ current change kits similar too – black for the Glen and dark green for the Rockies – a coin-toss was required for the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC opener and Blackrock won the right to play in their traditional colours.

It maintains the recent pattern of meetings: in the 2020 county final, Blackrock won the toss and the game but in 2023 they changed while the Glen lined out in their usual format, though the southsiders won that, too.

For much of the 20th century, the rule in Cork regarding clashes was that the older club could retain its first-choice jerseys, forcing their younger opponents to change. 

The Glen, formed in 1916 compared to 1883 for the Rockies, would use the equally famous black and white hoops of their sister football club St Nicholas.

That was the visual for the 1973 and 1975 county finals but a year later, when they made it through again, the Glen made a request that they be allowed to play in their new jerseys – which had thicker hoops – and black shorts to help tell the teams apart, but the county board turned that down. 

Instead, the Glen turned out in a ‘proper’ change kit of gold jerseys, black shorts and green socks and that outfit served them well as they avenged their defeat of a year before.

By the time of the 1978 final, the rule had changed that both clubs should change so this time Blackrock were in a Meath-like kit of green jerseys with gold trim.

The meetings of 1998 and 2004 were broadly similar looking, save for advancements in jersey design and manufacture, though for the 2008 clash the Glen were in their hoops but with black shorts.

When the clubs’ minors met in 2013, the Glen had procured a new alternative — wide black and green hoops, giving them a Nemo Rangers-esque look, but they had something different again by 2016, when they met the Rockies in the new county premier U21HC.

That was a jersey that was largely green with a gold hoop and black sleeves, but both clubs had been instructed to change: with Blackrock having entered into a sponsorship deal with the Mater Private private, their logo was applied to the green jerseys, but on a gold patch, making distinction very difficult.

Those Glen jerseys still see occasional use at junior level but in terms of an ‘away kit’, all-black has been the choice since having to change for a televised clash against Newtownshandrum in 2019.

They will hope that, like Mayo last weekend, a different look can be a lucky charm against great rivals.