Late Conor Glass goal inspires Glen to All-Ireland final redemption

Conor Glass of Glen after his side's victory in the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Glen of Derry and St Brigid's of Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

All-Ireland Club SFC Final: Watty Graham’s Glen 2-10 St Brigid’s 1-12 

Boom. Glen are All-Ireland champions after a dramatic one-point victory over St Brigid’s of Roscommon in Croke Park.

Last year’s beaten finalists looked destined for another bout of heartbreak until a Conor Glass goal in the 58th minute left it all square. They hit the front in extra-time and held on until the final second when an Shane Cunnane long-range free drifted just wide.

On a greasy surface with a swirling breeze, both sides took their time to get used to conditions. Glen rattled off three consecutive wides into the Hill 16 end while Ben O’Carroll missed his first three shots. He clipped the post from their first attack, dropped a free short soon after and then had a one-on-one goal chance saved by Connlan Bradley. That opportunity was not completely wasted; referee Brendan Cawley had played advantage for a prior Michael Warnock foul.

A quick Cunnane free sent Brian Stack away for the first point of the day and O’Carroll demonstrated all of his resolute character to subsequently push them clear. Emmett Bradley notched two before the Brigid’s top scorer swung over back-to-back frees.

The second came in contentious circumstances when a sideline was initially awarded to the Connacht champions. A ball rolled back onto the field and Glass made to kick it back only to dummy instead. O’Carroll was immediately awarded a free and duly converted it. O'Carroll's relentless runs then created a Bobby Nugent point. They were utterly settled by the time the number 13 clipped a mark to push them four clear.

Bobby Nugent of St Brigid's celebrates kicking a point during the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Glen of Derry and St Brigid's of Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

It was all level at the turnaround thanks to an awesome Glen 60 second passage, instigated by Conleth McGuckian claiming a breaking ball. His pass found Danny Tallon who squared across to an oncoming Jody McDermott, starting in place of the injured Jack Doherty. A cool left-footed finish found the goal.

From the resulting kickout, Glen forced Cormac Sheehy long and Ethan Doherty returned the O’Neills with interest.

Once more St Brigid’s responded worthily. O’Carroll linked up with Brian Derwin for their first goal and the full-forward drove one over with his laces moments later. McGuckian endeavoured to hit back but his goal bound shot was superbly blocked by a diving Pearse Frost, although Glass did kick the 45.

Now the favourites were rattled. Despite one floated effort in the first half, Ciarán McFaul’s radar was off and he sent four wide. McDermott and Tallon couldn’t find the target either. Captain Connor Carville limped off with fifteen minutes remaining. His replacement Stevie O’Hara immediately missed with another speculative effort. Cathal Mulholland was shown a black card.

Conor Glass of Glen celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the AIB GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Final match between Glen of Derry and St Brigid's of Roscommon at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Four down with less than five minutes on the clock, Glen needed something from somewhere. Warnock produced an inspirational point to cut the margin. After a quick free, Glass then found the net having spotted Cormac Sheehy off his line. A Bradley free and McGuckian point pushed them clear. Brigid’s strived to come again but were unable to muster a late equaliser.

Glen are finally champions.

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

Scorers for St Brigid’s: Brian Derwin 1-1, Ben O’Carroll 0-3 (1 mark, 2 frees), Ruaidhrí Fallon 0-2, Eddie Nolan 0-2, Brian Stack 0-1, Ciaran Sugrue 0-1, Bobby Nugent 0-1, Shane Cunnane 0-1.

Watty Graham’s Glen: C Bradley; M Warnock, R Dougan, C Carville; E Mullholland, C McFaul, C Mulholland; C Glass, E Bradley; E Doherty, J McDermott, T Flanagan; A Doherty, D Tallon, C McGuckian.

Subs: C Convery for E Mullholland (26), S O’Hara for Carville (44), C McCabe for Tallon (46).

St Brigid’s: C Sheehy; R Dolan, B Stack, P Frost; R Fallon, R Stack, A Daly; E Nolan, S Cunnane; C Hand, P McGrath, C Sugrue; B Nugent, B O’Carroll, B Derwin.

Subs: J Cunningham for Derwin (45), C Gleeson for Nugent (57).

Referee: B Cawley (Kildare).