Conor Glass: I wasn't going to make the same mistake twice

Glen powerhouse midfielder Conor Glass said that last year's match-losing miss against Kilmacud Crokes was very much on his mind as he blasted home the goal that kickstarted the Derry side’s revival in Sunday’s All-Ireland final win over St Brigid’s at Croke Park.

While last year’s final discourse was dominated by Crokes having an extra player on the field as Glen searched for an equaliser, it was somewhat overlooked that Glass had the chance to win it in the final minute of additional time only to see his side-footed effort along the ground brilliantly pushed past the post by Conor Ferris.

Twelve months on and with the Ulster champions floundering, Glass found himself presented with a goal chance with St Brigid’s goalkeeper Cormac Sheehy was out of position – this time there would be no miss as he drilled home from all of 20 metres.

It was the fairy-tale finish for Glass, who gave up a career in the AFL to help Glen in their pursuit in glory, arriving back in Maghera in October 2020, the same month that the club appointed Malachy O’Rourke.

"They had a free kick on the 13 [metre line], I think it was, and we put the full press on, we were a man down so we had to go after it," Glass told RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday Sport.

"I pushed up on the goalkeeper so when we did get that turnover I was free as the 'keeper was going back. Conleith [McGuckian] found me with a good pass.

"Here look, I had an opportunity to win it last year and the Kilmacud 'keeper was able to get down on the ground and save it, so I wasn’t going to make that mistake again today."

Asked if the miss on his mind as he lined up his rocket into the David Stand goals, the Maghera man said: "Yes, 100%.

"As I said leading up to this game, it has been on my mind, 100%. I just