Sean Armstrong | Niall Bogue | Eoin Brosnan | Paddy Bradley | Sean Cavanagh Aidan Carr | Kevin Cassidy | Ronan Clarke | Bryan Cullen | Colm Cooper
Shane Curran | Brian Dooher | Kieran Donahy | Mattie Forde | Thomas Freeman
Raymond Gallagher | Paul Galvin | Leighton Glynn | Ciaran Hanratty
Stephen Kernan | James Masters | Andy McClean | Oisin McConville
Ciaran McDonald | Stephen McDonnell | Michael Meehan | Barry Monaghan
Finnian Moriarty | Adrian Morrissey | Conor Mortimer | Eoin Mulligan
Ross Munnelly | Nicholas Murphy | Eamon O'Hara | Stephen O'Neill
Tomas Ó Sé | Darragh Ó Sé | Declan O'Sullivan | Colm Parkinson | Tomás Quinn
Donal Shine | Ciaran Whelan | Fergal Doherty
Dual star, Leighton Glynn, has had a fairytale year of GAA action for the Garden County. While playing a starring role in putting Wicklow football on the map in 2007 he also helped the county hurlers to the Div 2 final where they lost out to Laois.
Even though he plays in defence, the Rathnew star was one of Wicklow's top scorers, moving easily between the half-back and half-forward lines. Wicklow were massive underdogs when they met Louth in the 1st round of the Leinster Championship and Leighton did his bit, scoring 3 points to earn his side a draw. It took two replays to separate the sides with Louth winning in the end, sending Wicklow into the Tommy Murphy Cup.
Glynn's side saw off Offaly and Waterford to clinch a Croke Park showdown against Antrim. In a tense final, Glynn scored 1-4, but it still took a last-minute goal from Tommy Gill to seal the win for the Garden County and set them up for another assault on the Leinster Championship next year. With football on a high and Micko focused, it will be some adventure for Leighton and his fellow countymen.
Wicklow football really came to the fore this year. What was the highlight of your year?
Winning the Tommy Murphy Cup was definitely the highlight. It was disappointing that we missed out on the qualifiers, but we knew what we had to do during the league and we had to beat Sligo in the last game, so we couldn't have any complaints. We knew what we had to do but we didn't do it, so going on to win the Tommy Murphy Cup was a major boost.
Who was the toughest team you faced?
I would have to say Louth - it was a proper championship match. Meath were also very tough in the league, we were six or seven points up at one stage and yet they still came back and beat us.
Who is your toughest opponent?
Meath forward Graham Geraghty. When he gets going he is very difficult to stop.
Who are the players you admire?
Kerry corner-forward Colm Cooper and Tyrone midfielder Sean Cavanagh.
Who were your heroes growing up?
Dublin's Paul Curran would have been a hero of mine. When Dublin won the All-Ireland in 1995 there was such a buzz and there was so much hype that summer. Also, they are only up the road from us.
What is it like being trained and managed by Mick O'Dwyer, a living legend in the game?
It is excellent. This year there was a massive improvement. The amount we have come on in just one year is unbelievable.
You are a dual player, lining out also for the Wicklow hurlers. How do you balance the two codes?
I train mainly with the footballers and Micko doesn't mind me playing with the hurlers. But my hurling manager, John Mitchell, is very understanding as well. He is happy as long as I come along for the hurling practise.
What club do you play for and who would be your greatest rivals?
I play my club football with Rathnew, and Baltinglass would be our greatest rivals. Baltinglass won eight finals in a row starting in the late 1980s and then we won eight in a row, so we would both be always there or thereabouts.
What is the most important skill?
In football, it's just the basics - the catching and the kicking. Work at those and you wont go far wrong.
What advice would you give to young players?
Listen to your mentors and learn the basics.
Name: Leighton Glynn
Age: 25
Team: Wicklow
Position: Half-Back
Club:
Rathnew (Football)
Glenealy (Hurling)
Honours:
1 Tommy Murphy Cup title,
6 Wicklow SFC titles,
3 Wicklow SHC titles.
Fav food: Steak
Fav book: Hell's Prisoner by Christopher VV Parnell
Fav band: Arcade Fire
Fav film: City of God
Fav TV: Rescue Me
Occupation: Carpenter
CulFact: Leighton's father Tommy played for Wicklow in the 1969 All-Ireland Junior football final, when the Garden County beat Kerry.
© December 2007 |
