Ahead of last Sunday’s Ulster Club final Glen manager Malachy O’Rourke asked for a big performance from his players - and he got that in spades as the Derry side secured a first ever Ulster SFC title.

Glen came flying out of the blocks to race into a five point lead and although Kilcoo rallied, Glen managed to keep their noses in front, digging in for a result when they had to.

“We knew we were coming in against the best team in Ireland and they had proved that; we knew that the performance we had in the semi final against Cargin wouldn’t be good enough but we still felt within the group they were ready to produce a big performance. We knew they hadn’t hit their best to this stage and the boys were primed for it,” said Fermanagh native O’Rourke.

“Early on in the game we played really well, we had a great start and had them in bother early on. Their goal changed things around a bit and made things a lot tighter and in the second half part of it was game management and part of it was just backs to the wall. They had put a really hard press and there wasn’t much room and every ball was fought for intensely. We’re just delighted to hold our nerve and come through it.”

Kilcoo had edged out Glen in last year’s competition but O’Rourke felt that they learnt the lessons from that game.

“Looking back we felt we learnt a lot from last year’s game. We felt we were a bit passive in the game last year. They got bodies back and we probed and probed but we were maybe a wee bit too patient at times so we wanted to really go after their kick out and see if we could get joy with that, and whenever there was a chance and there was space open we wanted to really go for it and not be ultra careful. You had to take calculated risks as such and we did that really well early on and got that five point lead and although they chipped away at it we never lost the lead,” he said.

Kilcoo did hit back and forced Glen on to the back foot for a period in the second half but they showed great composure with goalkeeper Connlan Bradley offering himself as the extra man time and again.

“On the field the boys could see that everybody was really tightly marked and if you give the ball away it invites the opposition on so the keeper was the only spare man we had, and as well as that he was an outfield player himself so he is comfortable enough on the ball. It was just a way of trying to control the game as much as we could. The one thing we wouldn’t have been happy with throughout the second half was that we weren’t asking enough questions of them at times and we weren’t going at them but then in the last six or seven minutes we were able to get those couple of wee gaps and get in behind and punish them and we were able to finish the game off.”

O’Rourke is delighted for the players and for the club as a whole as they have followed up a first Derry title last year with a first Ulster crown at senior level.

“They are a brilliant set of fellas who are very humble and very hungry, just mad keen to learn and keep improving. The whole club as well, there is a real togetherness there and that has shown.

“For a few years they went through a lean enough period after all the underage success and they were keen then to push on and it is great to be involved in it.

“Just to see the scenes after the game on Sunday and how much it means to people. That’s the whole joy of being involved in football, you love the preparation for it and trying to get that big performance and then when you do get it that’s what it is all about. It was brilliant for the whole community, it was a special day.”

And O’Rourke is enjoying being involved back at club level after stepping down as Monaghan manager two years ago.

“I am really enjoying it. It is different in many ways but the only thing is that at club level now, especially at the higher level, it is equal to what inter-county was ten years ago.

“It’s also a long season, we finished last year on December 18 and the leagues were starting in April so we left it as late as possible to start training but that was still in mid March and we are still going in December and we’ll still be going in January. But, as I say, I’ve loved it,” he said.

And the former Fermanagh boss also had praise for trainer Ryan Porter who ensures that the team peak at the right time.

“It is a massive task for Ryan Porter to gauge. You hear of some clubs training flat out in January whereas Ryan is always very methodical and knows exactly what he is doing and makes sure that the boys are in the right shape at the right time and that is so important as well. It’s a massive challenge that he has too.”

So, there is an Ulster title in the bag, but the focus will quickly turn to January and an All Ireland semi-final against Connacht champions Moycullen.

“We had a great night Sunday night and the boys will be having a couple of days but we will be back out this week and we’ll reset the goals. We’re just focused on what’s ahead of us and not looking too far ahead and that’s what we’ll be doing.

“They are going to be a top, top team and we will have to be at our best, that’s the challenge,” he said.

 

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