“We’re the best team in Ireland now” – Conor Glass the hero as Glen stun St Brigid’s with late salvo

Niall McIntyre

Glen 2-10 St Brigid’s 1-12

Conor Glass was the hero as Watty Graham’s Glen came from behind to win their first ever All-Ireland senior club football title.

Having led from the 13th minute all the way up the 57th, the Roscommon club looked the more likely victors for most of the game but a late goal from Conor Glass turned the whole thing on its head.

St Brigid’s were in the driving seat when, with three minutes to go, a free from their own half was turned over, with the Derry side winning a free of their own.

The eventual man-of-the-match Glass made himself available for the quick one from Conleth McGuckian, and with Brigid’s goalkeeper Cormac Sheehy caught off his line, Glass had a sighter at goal.

With 0-2 to his name already, the former AFL man’s eye was in, the confidence was high and he levelled the game up by burying the ball past a stranded Sheehy, and into the right hand corner of the net.

Right there in a moment, the momentum of the game turned upside down. Up until this point, Glen had looked bereft, out of ideas and quite frankly, beaten.

They kicked some hugely uncharacteristic wides throughout having appeared rushed and uneasy in the build-up, with Ciaran McFaul’s three summing up the malaise that quickly engulfed the team.

On the other hand, Brigid’s were attacking with pace and purpose, with the brilliant Ben O’Carroll causing all sorts of problems for Glen’s rearguard. O’Carroll had shown all his pace and guile in setting up Brian Derwin for a 31st minute goal that, for most of the second half, looked like it would be the winning score.

But Glen never gave in, and when they got their chance, it fell to the right man.

#GAABEO 58 nóim @WattyGrahamsGAA 2-08@StBrigidsRos 1-11

Báite san eangach ag Conor Glass! 😍👀

What a finish to the net by Conor Glass and the teams are level!

BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺#GAA @GAA_BEO pic.twitter.com/9HskbHF5lV

— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) January 21, 2024

Emmett Bradley then kicked a free that put Glen one up before Conleth McGuckian kicked what would eventually prove to be the winning score. Watty Graham’s Glen, All-Ireland club champions for the first time in their history.

“We definitely don’t make it easy,” said Glass on TG4 after the game.

“But this team has shown character all year, and there’s no better place to show it than in the All-Ireland final.

“It’s been a tough year, after last year’s loss, but we’re the best team in Ireland now.”

Glen:

Connlan Bradley; Ryan Dougan, Michael Warnock, Connor Carville; Eunan Mulholland, Ciarán McFaul, Cathal Mulholland; Conor Glass, Emmett Bradley; Jody McDermott, Alex Doherty, Ethan Doherty; Conleth McGuckian, Danny Tallon, Tiarnan Flanagan.

Subs: Conor Convery for E Mulholland (25), Stevie O’Hara for Carville (44), Cahir McCabe for A Doherty (55).

Scorers for Glen: Conor Glass 1-2 (1 45), Emmett Bradley 0-4 (3fs), Jody McDermott 1-0, Michael Warnock, Ciarán McFaul, Ethan Doherty, and Conleth McGuckian 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s:

Cormac Sheehy; Robbie Dolan, Brian Stack, Pearse Frost; Ruaidhrí Fallon, Alan Daly, Ronan Stack; Eddie Nolan, Shane Cunnane; Bobby Nugent, Paul McGrath, Conor Hand; Ciarán Sugrue, Ben O’Carroll, Brian Derwin.

Subs: John Cunningham for B Derwin (45), Conor Gleeson for B Nugent (55).

Scorers for St Brigid’s: Brian Derwin 1-1, Ben O’Carroll 0-3 (2fs, 1m), Ruaidhrí Fallon and Eddie Nolan 0-2 each, Brian Stack, Ciarán Sugrue, Bobby Nugent, and Shane Cunnane (f) 0-1 each.

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