HE MADE HIS debut back in 1999 as a teenager and now Graham Callanan has spent half his life playing senior hurling for Glen Rovers.
Today is a marquee day as the 34 year-old is captain in a Cork senior hurling final but featuring on such landmark occasions has required patience and toil. There were plenty days when it wasn’t easy or fashionable to stick at it.
Callanan lined out in the 2000 All-Ireland minor final and whiled away plenty seasons on Cork senior panels.
That level of inter-county exposure didn’t translate to prolonged club campaigns. He had to wait until 2010 for his first county senior final appearance and defeat was their lot that time against Sarsfields.
“It’s been a long enough slog,” recalls Callanan.
“When we got to one, we thought when we’d a young enough team that it was easy to get back to one.
But it took us a few years. 1999 was my first year playing senior. Shane Kennefick would still be around, but he’d be the only other one. We’re the elder statesmen, we’ve had to be patient.”
They hoped that light was appearing at end of the tunnel in 2014 but were instead whipped around the place by Sarsfields. Glen Rovers may have a vibrant hurling tradition yet after that 16-point loss, their barren spell without a title was stretching into a 26th year.
Yet remarkably they bounced back within 12 months and last October, Glen Rovers finally delivered a long-awaited crown to add to the 25 that the club had already stockpiled. Little things made the difference in swinging victory their way.
“I think the management did a good job in getting us to forget about 2014,” says Callanan.
“We didn’t mention it until we got to the final (last year). There was no good came out of it. In 2014, we actually only had the week between the games, I think we drew the semi-final that time.
“We didn’t have the time to prepare. Last year and this year we’ve got that bit of rest and you get to enjoy it too, going up to training there’s a crowd there and a build-up.”
Claiming the final win generated a treasure trove of special moments.
“The day of it you almost forgot because there was so much relief and so much going on. It’s really only in the winter when you stop training and you might be in work, and the thought might come into your head about the day and going across the (Christy Ring) bridge, the open top bus going through Blackpool.
“There was a lovely moment there when we walked up Spring Lane, it was just the team, there was no else around actually.
“We’d strolled up from Blackpool because the bus couldn’t get up. It was just before we hit the mayhem again, we’d a few moments ourselves. It was nice. These things stand out afterwards.”
In the twilight of his career, Callanan is at last experiencing a golden run. Today is Glen Rovers third successive county final appearance and they have a superb chance to put back-to-back titles together.
“I think the last two years will really stand to the younger lads on the team. There’s a few of them that know no other thing than being in finals, they haven’t suffered the long road yet!
“We keep saying it to them but they don’t listen to us! But look obviously they’re a big reason why we’re there. It’s been proven how difficult it is (to do back to back), our opponents (Erins Own) are the last team to do it.
“When you play at a club like the Glen, there’s always massive expectation. There’s people there with seven or eight counties. I don’t think I’ll be lucky to get the far.”
There’s a formidable obstacle to surmount in order to achieve that. Erins Own bring a winning mentality and a wealth of experience to the table.
“I’d know a good few of the lads, they’ve vast experience club and county,” says Callanan.
“I think in fairness they’re a very similar team to ourselves. They’re very direct, they’re a physical side, they’ll throw everything at us.
“I actually still play basketball with the two Murphy’s, Hero and the Bear. I’d know them quite well, I’d know Shane (Murphy) as well.
“We play basketball together during the winter, it’s good for a break. We play poker as well the odd night, they’re sharks at that as well!
“They beat us in two minor county finals at my age, they were very strong at that time and in fairness they went on to have success at senior level.”
Callanan is still proving to be a hugely influential performer as evidenced by the 2015 final against Sarsfields and last month’s semi-final against Douglas. Injury concerns have eased and he is looking forward to embracing the opportunity today.
“I’m probably not training as much as I’d like to, a few niggling injuries but I’m happy to drive on as long as I can or as long as I’m left even!
“But I suppose we’ve been waiting so long, to have one is great, to back it up with another and prove ourselves is our aim this year.”
Cork senior hurling final: Glen Rovers v Erins Own, Páirc Uí Rinn, 4pm
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