Glen Rovers captain Adam Lynch eyes glory in historic city derby final

For Adam Lynch, the journey back to the county final has been a long one.

The Glen Rovers captain has experienced almost every emotion possible in the Glen jersey over the last decade or so, from county final triumphs and near misses to relegation heartbreak and the challenge of rebuilding. 

Now, as Glen Rovers prepare to face St Finbarr's in Sunday's Co-Op SuperStores Premier SHC final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh (4pm), Lynch is determined to savour the occasion.

"Buzzing is probably the best word for it," Lynch said.

"We haven't been in a final in a few years but when I first got on the panel in 2014, we got to three finals in a row and won in 2015 and 2016. Then we got back there in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and didn't get over the line.

"We went down in 2023 and had to come back up again, so rollercoaster is probably an understatement. That's the highs and lows of playing with the Glen. There are great times and there are tough times, but we're just looking ahead to Sunday now.

"The whole camp is buzzing and the whole parish is buzzing. All the kids are excited. They're down here every night watching training and pucking around. All the volunteers around the club are hopping as well. It's brilliant to see."

After losing their opening championship game to Blackrock, Glen Rovers found themselves with no margin for error for the remainder of the campaign. Every outing effectively became knockout hurling and Lynch believes that sharpened the team's focus.

"We said it going into the Midleton game that we wanted to be training on the Tuesday afterwards. That was the goal, to keep training and keep going on to the next game.

"Since losing the first game, every game has been a knockout game and we understood the importance of that. We came back training looking forward to a county final and that's where every club wants to be.

"You can see it around the place. The excitement is building every day."

While Glen's return to the top tier following relegation was viewed by many as a rebuilding process, Lynch insists there was never any shortage of belief within the dressing room.

"To be honest, we always felt we were good enough. At the start of every year our goal is to win the county championship and this season was no different.

"It didn't go our way for a period and we had to regroup, but the players have always been there.

"What's really helped is the younger generation coming through. There are lads there now who haven't played in county finals before and they've really driven things on. They've brought huge energy and hunger to the group."

Sunday's final carries extra significance given the opponents.

Glen Rovers and St Finbarr's are two of the most decorated clubs in Cork hurling history and will meet in a county senior decider for the first time since 1988.

For Lynch, it is exactly the type of occasion players dream about.

"It's huge. They're one of the biggest clubs in Cork and so are we.

"It's two city clubs, two traditional rivals, and it's probably a fixture everybody will be talking about this week.

"The Barrs are a great side. You look through their team and there are top-class players in every line. They've had a brilliant year.

"They're probably similar to ourselves in that they lost their opening game and have been playing knockout hurling since then too.

"We know it's going to be a massive occasion and it's going to draw a huge crowd. These are the games you want to play in."

As captain, Lynch will lead Glen Rovers out on Sunday, a responsibility he describes as one of the proudest moments of his career.

"When I was asked to captain the team at the start of the year, I couldn't stop smiling.

"It's a huge honour.

"But to be honest, there are leaders right throughout this group. There are captains all over the field and throughout the panel. I'm probably lucky to be the one wearing the armband.

"It's an absolute honour and hopefully now we can finish the job."