Former Galway United hero is appointed the club’s new U-19 manager

THE man who captained Galway United to their sole FAI Cup success back in 1991 has been named as the manager of the club’s new U-19 side which will compete in the 2015 campaign that kicks-off in August.

Johnny Glynn – who had been in line for the senior job, which went to Tommy Dunne – will take charge of the club’s first campaign in the national underage league, after both Salthill Devon and Mervue United opted out of the league and will instead take part in the national U-17 league.

United was the only one of the 19 league clubs prevented from competing in the U-19 league last season, because of the involvement of the two junior clubs, but the path has now been cleared to allow the club grow and develop by virtue of having a team in the U-19 league.

They have been drawn in section 2 of the three-section league alongside Athlone Town, Bohemian FC, Longford Town, St Patrick’s Athletic (the reigning champions), Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne FC, and Glynn is looking forward to the challenge.

“I feel that I have a proven track record of developing players and clubs. The big attraction of the job was that there are a lot of good young players out there.

“I want to develop players for the first team. I want to develop a successful U-19 team and I want to put a pathway and structures in place for all the clubs in the region,” he said.

Glynn made 83 league and cup appearances for United between the 1984/85 and 1990/91 seasons, culminating in the club’s most famous day when they beat Shamrock Rovers 1-0 on May 12, 1991, at Lansdowne Road, with Glynn scoring the all-important goal four minutes from time.

“It’s almost 25 years since 1991, I always supported the club as a youngster and to go and play for the club and now to be involved again is fantastic. I’m really excited, it’s an attractive job and I know that there’s a lot of hard work to be done but I can’t wait to get underway,” Glynn said.

That Cup final-winning goal was one of 25 he scored for United, with 15 coming in the league, four in the FAI Cup and six in the League Cup. He also won silverware with Cork City, St Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers, while he also played with Sligo Rovers and Norwegian side FK Haugesund.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.