WHEN the football broke out in this gripping Ulster final at the Athletic Grounds this afternoon, Glen just about held the edge to land their first provincial title.
There was a serious edge from the first ball to the very last when players tussled on the ground as Kilcoo lost their Ulster and All-Ireland titles, but it was the Maghera side that got the job done.
Glen will now face Galway side Moycullen in the All-Ireland semi-final in the New Year after avenging last year’s Ulster extra-time semi-final defeat by Kilcoo.
Don’t be fooled by the scoreline though.
Glen’s goal came in stoppage time as they hit the last 1-2 of the game, holding Kilcoo scoreless for the last 16 minutes.
And yet, Malachy O’Rourke’s side looked on the rack for long spellw as they appeared to run out of ideas and gas, and struggled playing into an intense sun that made it difficult to pick out a foot pass.
But when Glen were in trouble and looking for something it was a moment of magic from Conleth McGuckin that broke the deadlock.
McGuckin fist passed over a Kilcoo player, collected it and sent Ethan Doherty haring in on goal for the point that put them two up on 55 minutes.
And it was Doherty again who won the stoppage time free to put Glen three up after fine set up play from Tiarnan Flanagan, before the late goal.
It came after excellent full back Ryan Dougan punched a long Kilcoo kickout forward and man of the match McGuckin first timed it inside to Alex Doherty, who rounded the goalie to fire to an empty net.
Kilcoo looked fit and strong late on and had a penalty shout with Jerome Johnston on 48 minutes after Ceilum Doherty’s shot at goal was blocked.
Doherty had a huge second half, as did Darryl Branagan driving forward, while Aaron Branagan hit 1-1 from defence.
Glen started like a train and were 0-5 to 0-0 up on 10 minutes with five different scores from six shots.
But Kilcoo hit back with a 12th minute goal from Aaron Branagan after slick play from Paul Devlin, who delivered a superb foot pass and quick hands from Dylan Ward.
It was cagey, often nasty stuff, after that with the match officials under serious pressure with incidents going on all over the place when the ball was there and when it wasn’t.
Kilcoo will rue a missed penalty in first half stoppage time, when Paul Devlin rolled wide after Jerome Johnston was felled by Dougan after a fine Shealan Johnston pass.
Afterwards, Glen captain Conor Carville said that for years people said Glen had “no character, were mentally weak, had no leaders, and now we are kings of Ulster.”
It was hard fought as they delivered on the promise of multiple underage Derry and Ulster titles at minor and under-21 level.
And it was a second Ulster club title for Malachy O’Rourke after his victory with Loup (Derry) back in 2003.
GLEN: C Bradley, C Mulholland, R Dougan (0-1), C Carville, T Flanagan, M Warnock, E Mulholland, C Glass (0-1), E Bradley (0-2, 2fs), E Doherty (0-1), J Doherty (0-1), C Convery, A Doherty (1-0), D Tallon (0-5, 5fs), C McGuckin (0-1).
SUBS: C McCabe for Convery 57mins.
KILCOO: N Kane, N Branagan, R McEvoy (0-1, f), A Branagan (1-1), E Branagan, D Branagan (0-1), M Rooney, A Morgan, D Ward, C Doherty, R Johnston, S Johnson, C Laverty, J Johnston (0-1, mk), P Devlin (0-2, 2fs).
SUBS: A Morgan for Ward ht, S Og McCusker for E Branagan 56mins.
REFEREE: J McQuillan (Cavan)
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