Glen pip Naomh Conaill in Ulster arm wrestle

Glen’s Ethan Doherty and Naomh Conaill's Anthony Thompson

Ulster Club SFC semi-final: Glen 0-10 Naomh Conaill 1-6 

Emmett Bradley was the Glen hero, kicking the Ulster champions into next month’s final at the end of Saturday evening’s arm wrestle with Naomh Conaill.

Seconds earlier, AJ Gallagher flicked a Leo McLoone dropping ball over the bar and the Donegal champions looked to have taken Glen to extra time.

The Watties led by four points after 23 minutes before Ciaran Thompson landed the opening Naomh Conaill score. The Donegal side took hold of a game that was always heading to the last turn in the road.

Glen started without Jack Doherty and Conor Convery before losing Danny McDermott to injury.

A John O’Malley penalty, early in the second half, pushed Naomh Conaill ahead, 1-3 to 0-5.

It was a slugfest full of turnovers and battles for any vital inch. Glen’s kicking game saw them earn four advanced marks in the final quarter but they failed to convert the scores that could’ve left their path to the final a less bumpy one.

Glen won an early free but two failed attacks into the Naomh Conaill pressure saw counterattacks but Conor Glass made the first of his first half interceptions on a night when he stood tall.

It took six minutes to produce the first score when man of the match Conleth McGuckian popped over the first of three points from an advanced mark.

Glen had a potshot easily gathered by Stephen McGrath as the Ulster champions got to grips with the game early on.

At the other end, a dangerous John O’Malley cross was punched from under the bar by Ryan Dougan.

McGuckian doubled the Glen lead before Cathal Mulholland hit a thumping effort to make it three.

The Watties lost McDermott to injury and McGuckian made it 0-4 to 0-0 before Martin Regan’s men had their spell.

First it was Ciaran Thompson, before Ethan O’Donnell’s curling effort kissed the inside of the post for a Naomh Conaill second.

Thompson, after Glass blocked his first shot, curled a score in front of the Naomh Conaill fans.

Glen did finish with a score. Connor Carville and Alex Doherty were involved before Jody McDermott popped over for a 0-5 to 0-3 interval lead with the last kick.

With the half-time team talks still ringing in the ears, the ball was in the back of the Glen net.

Anthony Thompson fired a speculative ball into the Glen square. When AJ Gallagher ended up on the deck, referee Hurson, after consulting with his umpires, awarded a penalty which John O’Malley thumped to the net.

Glen didn’t panic and varied their kick-outs all night. When Cathal Mulholland dinked over his second of the night the sides were level again.

Both teams, known for their squeaky-clean use of the ball, coughed up possession with every grip of the leather vital on a night when scores were always going to be at a premium.

When Brenan McDyre popped over the sides were level again. Then Glen eked ahead, Ciaran Thompson punished their wastefulness with a third and extra-time was written all over it.

Stevie O’Hara’s curler then looked like the winner in the closing stages.

There was still time for Naomh Conaill, with their never-say-die spirit to poke its head up again with AJ Gallagher’s flicked equaliser.

The game came down to Emmett Bradley. Glen used the ball well on the flanks and when Bradley swung his left peg, their last throw of the dice took them back to a final. Scotstown or Trillick await.

Scorers for Glen: E Bradley (2f), C McGuckian (1m) 0-3 each, C Mulholland 0-2, J McDermott and S O’Hara 0-1 each 

Naomh Conaill: C Thompson 0-3, J O’Malley 1-0 pen, B McDyre, AJ Gallagher and E O’Donnell 0-1 each 

GLEN: C Bradley; M Warnock, R Dougan, C Carville; D McDermott, C McFaul C Mulholland; C Glass, E Bradley; E Mulholland; D Tallon, C McGuckian, E Doherty; T Flanagan, A Doherty 

Subs: J McDermott for D McDermott (INJ 22), S O’Hara for A Doherty (54) 

NAOMH CONAILL: S McGrath; E Waide, AJ Gallagher, U Doherty; J Mac Ceallabhuí; K McGettigan, A Thompson, E O’Donnell; L McLoone, C Thompson; B McDyre, O Doherty, E Doherty; C McGuinness, J O’Malley Sub: K McGill for J O’Malley (52) 

Referee: S Hurson (Tyrone)