GALWAY HURLERS have received a timely boost with manager Henry Shefflin confirming that Johnny Glynn has joined the squad for the upcoming championship and has committed to them for the summer.
The 30-year-old, a key figure in Galway’s 2017 All-Ireland triumph, has not played for Galway since 2019 but was invited back for a training stint with them last month following big displays when he came home to play for Ardrahan in last year’s county championship.
Glynn, who has been based in New York for almost a decade, joined Galway for a training camp in Portugal just before Easter — and Shefflin has now confirmed in a briefing with local media that the powerful 6’5″ forward is on board as they head into the championship.
“He’s very much part of the plans and for anyone who saw him play his club championship, we looked at him and said he performed very well and for the couple of blocks he has been with ourselves and in camp, he has performed very well,” said Shefflin.
“So for that reason and in what we saw in the club, what we have seen in camp and in the training sessions and what he’s contributing to the group, it has been extremely positive so I’m delighted to say he’s willing to put a big, big effort into coming back and playing for Galway this year.”
Glynn has not played for Galway since they were knocked out of the 2019 Leinster championship but transferred back to his native club last year and his performances for Ardrahan did not go unnoticed by Shefflin and his management.
He continues to live in New York and commuted for those games with Ardrahan last year, sometimes taking in a couple of games on each trip home.
Glynn, who made his Galway senior debut in 2012 having enjoyed All-Ireland minor success, moved to New York in 2015. Michéal Donoghue persuaded the big ball-winner to commute from the United States in 2016 and 2017 and he played a huge role when Galway ended a 29-year wait for the All-Ireland title in 2017.
Glynn continued to travel across the Atlantic in 2018 and 2019, often training with the New York footballers to maintain his fitness levels.
In 2019 he transferred to the Hoboken Guards Hurling Club in New York and the Sligo Football Club in the Big Apple.
Last year he played a big role as New York won their first-ever game in the Connacht championship when they defeated Leitrim on penalties, before bowing out to Sligo in the Connacht championship.
His return to play for Ardrahan was seen out of loyalty and wanting to give at least one year to his native club rather than try to revive his inter-county career. But now, he’s back for Galway in the 2024 championship and Shefflin is grateful to Glynn for the commitment he is making.
“His wife and family are very supportive of that and his job over in New York so he will be coming home and joining the squad and we are delighted to have him on board.”
Galway will open their championship against Carlow on Sunday in Salthill in the first of three successive games, with Kilkenny coming to Pearse Stadium the following week and then a trip to Wexford six days later.
They will then have a week off before concluding their Leinster campaign away to Antrim and at home to Dublin.