Denis Glennon. Patrolling the community, football field and stage.

Denis Glennon. Patrolling the community, football field and stage.

By Steven Kelly.

Denis Glennon is regarded by many as one of the finest footballers to come out of Westmeath. The Tyrrellspass clubman had a huge say in his side's Leinster final victory over Laois, which went to a replay back in 2004, under the guidance of the late Kerry legend Paidi O’ Se. The garda opens up on his career and how he got involved with Gaelic football originally. “I suppose it started off living in Rochfortbridge, a few miles outside of Tyrrellspass. I followed my brother Chris around everywhere. I would have started participating in the community games as an athlete. I would say I was slightly further developed than other guys my own age. I later moved to Rhode in Co Offaly. Jerry Hickey was a teacher in the local school at the time and got me involved with playing football in school. We won an u15 school title, which gave me a great appetite for the game. Even before that, I remember playing in goals as a young child and then eventually I was brought out to play midfield. My older brother Chris got me involved with playing for the club and I never really looked back from there. I owe a lot to Philip Sheridan who I was involved with a lot at club level, down through the years too."

Glennon loved all sports and felt as though this propelled him to becoming an inter-county footballer. “I loved all sports. I would have played Basketball when I was in school and felt this helped me with my hand-eye coordination, speed and peripheral vision. I would say I looked up to a few sportspeople growing up. The likes of Graham Geraghty of Meath, Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods were people I enjoyed watching. I suppose this set me up for playing for the Westmeath Minors and u21’s at a young age. My grandfather and his two brothers played for Offaly, so I suppose I was destined to have a path in sport. It was something I only became aware of as I got older.”

Denis was well known for his quick feet and speed by many. Having played underage for Westmeath, he was then given the green light to play senior football for the lake county. “It was Tomas O’ Flatharta who called me up. I was only 17 at the time. He told me I was on the panel and I was to do everything in my power to stay on it, as many lads were fighting for the jersey.” It was a watershed time for Westmeath football. The Kerry great Paidi O’ Se was assembling a squad to compete in Leinster. It wasn’t all plain sailing for Glennon however. “I'll never forget it. I had just played in a senior match for Westmeath and scored 1-4 from play. Paidi rang me up and I was thinking surely he was going to be praising my performance. You didn’t tackle or work back. You’re off the panel. My heart dropped. My mom and I couldn’t believe it. Luckily a while later he rang me again and said he had a change of heart. I think I went out the next game and made a record amount of tackles. That was the guy Paidi was. Still to this day, I couldn’t think of anybody else who tested me on that level. As a forward, I always thought I needed to score and that was enough. I saw it in Aidan O’ Mahony of Kerry. Winning is instilled in Kerrymen. Paidi improved my outlook greatly. He saw my weaknesses and I am thankful for that.”

Thinking back to that historic summer’s day in 2004, in which Westmeath won their first-ever Leinster Championship, Glennon remembers a certain sideshow involved. “Well the media made a big deal of Paidi vs Mick O’ Dwyer and if anything that helped take the pressure off us. I didn’t even notice that Laois were the reigning Leinster Champions. I just focused on my own game. It was a shame that the match went to a replay. I got 5 points the first day and only 2 in the replay. It only really hit me afterwards, when my dad was crying on the bus. He would be quite a hard nut to crack, so to see him in tears made me realise what we had achieved. The support I got from guys like Alan Buddha Managan and Martin Flanagan, who also were involved with Westmeath is something I will always value."

Having played on many teams over the years Denis played with the likes of Dessie Dolan, a true great of Westmeath football. He believes however that given the opportunity, he would have dreams of playing with another great. “Yes, if I had the chance I would have loved to have played with Matt Connor of Offaly. He was a very talented full-forward. He was part of that great Offaly team from 1982. He was so skilful and led the way for the likes of Peter Canavan after him. I worked with him in Tullamore and he is an absolute gentleman.”

Glennon comes across as a chilled and relaxed figure. He did everything to keep himself relaxed before a big game. “I do see lads being wound up before a match. For me, that isn’t good preparation. You need to always be relaxed and ready to work hard. Before a big game, I would have a good sleep and my wife would always make sure I was looked after. I am forever grateful for her support. I would then have a good stretch done and just take it easy before setting off on the team bus. When my grandad passed away I carried a watch of his everywhere and I guess that was my lucky charm. In terms of my work-life balance, I joined the guards in 2006 and I would have worked a lot of evenings and weekends. It wasn’t easy juggling both football and being a garda. I managed it. It was something I got used to doing.”

Looking ahead Glennon is hanging up his club football boots and sees a spot in management on the horizon. “When I was a footballer I always wanted to be the best. I don’t think I will be any way different as a football manager. I am only 37 and have to start somewhere, but I have my eyes set on big things. I am hoping the knowledge I have  gained from the likes of Pat Flanagan and Paidi O’ Se will stand to me.”

Gaelic football has changed a lot in the last 20 years. It is a lot more tactical and technical. Denis believes more needs to be done to improve the game in the smaller counties. “What I would like to see is more funding for other teams. It would help these teams. When I played against Dublin at u16 level, I marked Bryan Cullen. He went on to be a fantastic player. If you invest you can achieve great things. We beat them in a league final in 2008. We then played them in a semi-final and they hammered us. We had been beating them, but they had the structures and funding in place. To put it into context, at underage level Dublin was given lots of new gear and nutritional programmes. We didn’t even have our own tracksuits. That eventually showed.” Glennon is not a fan of the new rules in the GAA and wants the rules overturned. “The top teams are so far ahead. The standard in lesser counties has dropped and it has ruined the championship. The short kick-outs have changed the game. Back when I was playing you had to win a 50-50 challenge. There are still great players of course like Conor Macmanus, but it has turned into a possession game. It has gone analytical now. The marks are pointless. You want to see a player taking on another guy. That is what the GAA is all about.”

Not only is Denis Glennon known for his football abilities, but he is also a fine singer. “Well, music would have been in my family. My mam would have been a professional singer. I remember I had a bit of free time and I went with her to the local choir. They got me to sing O Holy Night. I got a great reaction and then I sang for a charity supporting kids and women who had been abused. My performance got a great reaction and it just went from there. I have been asked to do a few concerts and that has improved my confidence. I was planning on recording with John Hogan, a local singer, but covid then hit. I am looking forward to getting back into it when it is possible. Denis Glennon has the ability to patrol his way around. Being a garda, a former football and looking at his ability to sing and manage, the Westmeath man has a way of leaving a hard footprint on anything he puts his mind to. He is a great example that hard work and self-belief are the perfect formula to succeed.