You can understand why Conor Glass doesn’t want 2022 to end. On Sunday he brought the season to an end by completing an Ulster club and county double with Glen and Derry.
He also earned an All Star for his exploits with the Oak Leafers during the summer and played a pivotal role as Watty Graham’s ended Kilcoo’s reign as Ulster and All-Ireland champions with a six-point win in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.
“It is an amazing feeling. The scenes around the pitch at the final whistle were incredible,” said Glass.
Read more: Recap as Glen defeat holders Kilcoo to clinch maiden Ulster Club Senior Football title
“It was always going to be tough coming up against the All-Ireland champions. They are the benchmark. We obviously had the heartbreak of last season which probably gave us a bit of an edge.
“We had our sights set on Kilcoo from the day they beat us last year. Thankfully, we got over the line today.
“2022 has just been a mad year! It has been one thing after the other and I haven’t had much time to think about it to be honest.
“I wish this year could continue because it has been a special year for, not only myself, but the people of Derry, Glen and my friends and family too.
“I always knew there was an Ulster Club in this Glen team and I knew there was an Ulster title in Derry too.
“I’m looking forward to the All-Ireland series, but we’ll enjoy a bit of family time over Christmas too, but it has been a memorable 2022 season.”
Those sentiments were echoed by his county and club colleague Ethan Doherty.
Like Glass, Doherty is an integral part of the Derry set-up and was short-listed for Young Footballer of the Year in 2022 while Emmet Bradley also won provincial titles with Glen and Derry this season.
“We knew coming into this game that it wasn't going to be easy - it was always going to be a tough battle," said Doherty.
"We took the learnings from last year’s defeat.
“It was really difficult playing into the sun in the second half. When you looked up, you couldn’t really see into the forward line.
“It is amazing to get over the line - it is a great feeling. We set out at the start of the year just to get over every hurdle and we’ve done that so far and we’re delighted.”
Glen made the brighter start, but could have fallen behind at the break as Kilcoo’s Paul Devlin dragged a late first half penalty wide of the post.
Doherty felt maintaining that lead was vital for the Maghera men.
“We always knew they were going to come back with something,” added Doherty.
“We made a great start to the game. We’ve played better in the second half for most of the games this year.
“I think we dealt with it really well and we managed to get in at half-time leading and we were able to keep them at bay in the second half.”
Sunday’s Ulster Club Senior title completes the full set of provincial crowns for Watty Graham’s.
They won four successive Ulster Minor Football Tournaments at St Paul’s between 2011 and 2014 and added a hat-trick of victories at Creggan’s U21 Tournament between 2015 and 2017.
While Glass said their underage success added a burden of expectation to the senior squad, he paid tribute to the dedication of their various club coaches in recent years.
“It definitely does add a bit of pressure - those boys have a serious amount of medals, especially the boys around the age of Emmet Bradley and Connor Carville,” said Glass.
“They were the first ones to do it and it is a testament to the coaches at the club. They put the effort and resources into it and they are reaping the rewards now.
“To keep that group together shows what a special bunch of players we have. We aren’t teammates, we’re all brothers and we achieved this together.”
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