Glen Rovers and St Nicks plays a huge role in life of David Brosnan and his family

It has been a surreal sporting journey for Glen Rovers and St Nicks star David Brosnan that began as a young boy at the North Mon where basketball was his first love.

He soon became one of the best basketball players in the country. A scoring machine, his athleticism was unmatched and he was soon in demand from colleges all over America.

UCC Demons v. Iona. Div 1 final, at the Parochial Hall: UCC Demons Carlton Cuffe runs away from Iona's David Brosnan

“Basketball was my first passion and that helped me get to America on a scholarship in 1994 where I went to Iona Prep in New York,” said Brosnan.

Orlaith Cahalane (Camogie) and Jack Cahalane (Football) have been awarded prestigious sports scholarships through the partnership between Munster Technological University (MTU) and Clearstream, a branch of Deutsche Börse Group.

Arriving stateside David found he was a few months off the basketball starting up and decided to get involved in another sport.

“I joined the cross-country team and that’s where I met all my friends and although I was playing basketball midweek, I was then attending track meets at weekends,” added David.

As the months went by Brosnan was getting better and faster on the track and that opened more doors for him.

“I got some up track scholarships and ended up going to college but I had to make a decision after the first year but I ended up staying over in the States for another 10 years.”

David met his wife Stacy in New York and got married with their first daughter Kaitlyn born there and again decisions had to be made by the Brosnan family.

“We had to make a call of whether or not we wanted to raise our kids in America or Ireland and in 2004 we decided to return and give Ireland a try and the rest is history.”

The Brosnan family are steeped in Glen Rovers/St Nicks history and having three brothers involved with the club it was easy to get involved with the Blackpool club.

“I hadn’t played football since I was a 13-year-old, but I went back at it as the one thing I could do was run and jump.”

As the years matured David’s son Michael T showed he had some good talent at basketball, hurling and football that culminated in him playing with the Cork minor hurling team this season, with his other son Jake (19) also playing for his county.

“When the young lads were growing up, I got involved in coaching with the Glen and I have been involved with teams for the past 14 years.”

After guiding the Glen to two county minor hurling titles David is now in his third year at the helm and he was thrilled when success came their way at this level.

“It was great for me on a personal level as when you have been coaching kids from five and then you get to bring them all the way through and outside of playing witnessing how fine lads they have all turned out to be gives me great satisfaction.”

Is coaching his sons a problem for David?

At the Rochestown Park Hotel Finbarr Mc Carthy presenting the the Cork 96FM C103 GAA Sports Person of the Month Award to David Brosnan, St. Nicks Gaelic Football Club, also in picture, L to R., Paudie Palmer, C103, Kieran McGeary CEO, Cork 96FM C103, Pearse Murphy, Treasurer, Cork County Board, Des Cullinane, Chairman St. Nicks GAA Club and Padraig Casey, Rochestown Park Hotel. Picture, Tony O'Connell Photography.

“I explained to them at an early stage that I probably had to be a bit tougher on them as I didn’t want their teammates to witness any favouritism, but I think the lads we have in the Glen are very genuine.”

Losing their opening game in the Premier 1 Minor hurling championship last week to Douglas was disappointing for David, but he is not downbeat with a crucial clash against Sars looming.

“We have lost our opening game for the last couple of years but on the plus side there is a very young team, and we are trying to find ourselves but we have three rules that players don’t argue with teammates or the referee and we play for 60 minutes.”

The Glen Rovers club are presently working hard at all levels and with the senior team opening up with a win against Erin’s Own, Brosnan believes they are ready to make a statement in the championship.

“When I came back from America my whole idea was to have my family involved with the club and making good friends and the one thing you get with the Glen and the GAA in general is that people look out for one another and the camaraderie is top notch.

“The senior team have got some players through from the minor team in recent years and these young lads are driving the older players and that’s great at any level.”

Presently, David is also successful in business as he is presently managing director of Clearstream in Cork.

“I enjoy working with good people and our company are involved with the MTU campus that is a good partnership and we have various sports people working with the company.

St. Nick's David Brosnan is tackled by Macroom's Fintan Goold during the Bon Secours Cork PIFC at Ovens. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

“We are also up in the North Mon with transition year students and as a company we are involved with the Simon community and all these partnerships are very important to us.”

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