GLEN 1-11 MOYCULLEN 0-12
Glen clung on to see off Moycullen at Croke Park this afternoon and book an All-Ireland senior club final date with Kilmacud Crokes in a fortnight.
It was edgy and nervy as Moycullen kept coming at the Derry and Ulster champions, going man for man for most of the second half and forcing a series of errors that led to points.
Galway captain Sean Kelly was immense in piling on the pressure, winning two frees for over carrying by Glen players as the Connacht champions upped the ante and chased down the game.
READ MORE: Kilmacud Crokes survive late scare to hold off Kerins O'Rahillys
The pressure was telling as Dessie Conneely taped over eight frees from nine attempts, most of them from in front of the posts.
But ultimately, Glen never trailed in the game after driving out into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 10 minutes.
The scores may not have exactly flowed in the first half, but it was eventual with Glen trainer Ryan Porter - Malachy O’Rourke’s right hand man - red carded after 23 minutes.
Some of the duels were sensational with Sean Kelly against Ethan Doherty a mammoth fight, with both men emerging with immense credit.
Doherty slotted two crucial first half points from play, and at the final whistle Glen had six different scorers from play to Moycullen’s three.
Moycullen were powerful in the air from long kickouts with wing forward Gerard Davoren and Tom Clarke serious kick out targets.
Clarke veruse Derry star Conor Glass was another huge battle with both men having big moments, Clarke in the air and driving forward and Glass with his trademark disciplined defensive interventions and a critical score.
The vital goal came in Glen’s first attack of the second half when one wing back, Eunan Mulholland was denied, but the other wing back, Tiarnan Flanagan rolled to the net for a four point lead.
However, Glen were under the cosh for long spells of the second half, and pulled off no less than five blocks from Moycuelln shots in a seriously committed defensive effort.
That was ultimately what saw them home and into the final.
Their defence also contributed 1-2 from play with their midfield adding four more as they showed the quality they possess across their side.
GLEN: C Bradley, C Mulholland (0-1), R Dougan, C Carville, T Flanagan (1-0), M Warnock (0-1), E Mulholland, C Glass (0-1), E Bradley (0-3, 1f), E Doherty (0-2), J Doherty, C Covery, A Doherty, D Tallon (0-3, 1f), C McGuckian.
SUBS: C McCabe for E Mulholland 38mins, S O’Hara for A Doherty 53mins.
MOYCULLEN: A Power, C Corcoran, N Mulcahy, S Kelly, E Kelly, D Wynne, A Claffey, P Cooke (0-2), T Clarke, G Davoren, O Gallagher (0-1), P Kelly, M O’Reilly, N Walsh (0-1), D Conneely (0-8, 8fs).
SUBS: F McDonagh for Walsh 53mins, C Bohan for P Kelly 58mins, D Cox for O’Reilly 60mins
REFEREE: D Gough (Meath)
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