Glen took their maiden trip to Croke Park in their stride to defeat Connacht champions Maigh Cuilinn in a pulsating encounter to reach their first AIB All-Ireland club SFC final.
Tiarnan Flanagan's goal at the start of the second half proved to be the difference and despite Dessie Conneely’s accuracy from placed balls the Galway men could not cut the gap.
Glen will now look to replicate Ballinderry Shamrocks in a fortnight's time against Kilmacud Crokes, the last Derry representatives to win the Andy Merrigan Cup back in 2002.
The first turnover in the second minute of the contest fooled everyone that it would be a one sided contest. Maigh Cuilinn had possession for that long spell from the throw-in but could not muster a shot. Glen surged up the field and stayed there, landing four unanswered points in the next ten minutes.
As Emmett Bradley boomed over and Ethan Doherty floated over with ease, Maigh Cuilinn could not find their feet into the contest whatsoever. It did not help that Glen defender Ryan Dougan pulled off a stunning full length block to deny Galway panelist Dessie Conneely.
Conneely was lively and would soon provide the settler for his side with a free. A huge turn over from the resultant kick out suddenly saw the Derry Champions lead halved.
Thanks to Ger Davoren, it got even better for Maigh Cuilinn. With the imposing figure on the wing, Don Connellan’s outfit had a direct platform into the game and all the while bypassing Glen’s influential Conor Glass at the same time. Davoren devoured the kick out and Maigh Cuilinn started to believe.
Peter Cooke hooked over a shot to reduce the margin to the minimum. Glen let their frustrations show along the line as Malachy O’Rourke’s lieutenant Ryan Porter was dismissed by David Gough.
Under the cosh, Doherty and Bradley combined again with two stunning points from distance. Doherty with seven on his back but playing on the half forward line was excellent throughout.
Conneely had the final say on the entertaining first half to make it 0-6 to 0-4 in Glen’s favour.
Indeed, with the half barely a minute old it would be Ethan Doherty that would have a huge impact on the semi finals defining moment. A driving run and low shot that forced Maigh Cuilinn goalkeeper Andrew Power to make a point blank save.
The rebound fell to wing back Flanagan who instinctively squeezed it past Power off the deck. With the five point margin Glen knew the template to soak up the pressure and hold on but in fairness to Maigh Cuilinn they did not relent.
Niall Walsh replied straight away, Conneely took an exceptional mark as they sought to eat into the margin.
At the top of Galway manager Padraic Joyce’s wish list for the New Year is undoubtedly Peter Cooke. The former county man cut the gap to three points thanks to the pressure applied to Conlann Bradley kick outs collectively by him and his team-mates.
Glen, however, were attuned to what they had to do, they had been in this scenario before and never seemed to panic in the entire second half. Quiet up until now, Glass seized his moment to clamber up the field to find the target.
Every time the Derry side went up the field they had to be efficient and they were. Defenders Micheal Warnock and Cathal Mulholland typified this, with two classy points to cancel out Conneely’s ever growing tally. The marksman would finish with eight in total.
Still, despite Owen Gallagher pulling another back for Maigh Cuilinn, Glen were not going to be denied. Defiantly standing up to whatever was thrown at them, O’Rourke’s side relished in the relief of David Gough’s final whistle.
Glen: Conlann Bradley; Ryan Dougan, Cathal Mulholland (0-01), Michael Warnock (0-01); Tiarnan Flanagan (1-00), Connor Carville, Ethan Doherty (0-02); Conor Glass (0-01), Emmett Bradley (0-03, 1f); Eunan Mulholland, Jack Doherty, Conor Convery; Conleth McGuckian, Danny Tallon (0-03, 2f), Alex Doherty.
Subs: Cahair McCabe for Convery (38), Stevie O’Hara for A Doherty (53).
Maigh Cuilinn: Andrew Power; Conor Corcoran, Eoghan Kelly, Neil Mulcahy; Michéal O'Reilly, David Wynne, Aidan Claffey, Tom Clarke, Paul Kelly; Ger Davoren, Niall Walsh (0-01), Peter Cooke (0-02); Seán Kelly; Owen Gallagher (0-01), Dessie Conneely (0-08, 7f, 1m).
Subs: Fionn McDonagh for Walsh (53), Conor Bohan for P Kelly (58), Daniel Cox for O’Reilly (59)
Referee: David Gough (Slane, Meath)
