O'Rourke proved missing link for ambitious nearly men in Glen

Bronagh Mulholland is the life and soul of Glen GAA.

A mother, teacher, coach, the club's vice-chair and the type of person who could help anyone with any problem – or at the very least throw a caring arm around them, listen to them, and maybe point the way towards help.

Her two sons Cathal and Eunan take the field on Sunday, not that their mam will be able to watch it. She can guarantee that she will be on stadium grounds but most likely she won’t be able to watch the game itself. That’s been the case for a good few years now, the nervousness involved is overbearing.

She’s like a mother to most of the players. Aside from having them in her classroom, she was their coach from Go Games level up to under-12 and beyond. She had them doing resistance training in the swimming pool long before it was a scientific tool for S&C coaches.

All of that work took place behind the scenes. But it’s because of people like her that Glen are where they are now – on the cusp of a famous and groundbreaking All-Ireland win.

And of course it’s also because her old friend, Malachy O’Rourke, has coached the team to great heights and feats since taking charge.

O’Rourke and Mulholland were in the same class in teacher training college years ago and they have been friends over the decades.

"We were always so proud of him and his achievements," she says.

"And from Glen's point of view, all of the pieces of the jigsaw fell together when he agreed to come to us.

"That connection we had from college made it extra special and I always believed the lads had the potential and they are getting to fulfil it now working with Malachy."

Seeds were sown when O’Rourke was the guest of honour at Glen’s commemorative dinner dance in 2018.

He enquired when the Derry club