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Conor Glass savours 'extra special' Ulster title for Derry

'It was a game with two heavyweights going at it'
'It was a game with two heavyweights going at it'

Conor Glass declared Derry's retention of their Ulster SFC title 'extra special' as it saw them defend a provincial crown for the first time since 1976.

The Oak Leaf county looked like they were going to win it in normal time, only for Rian O'Neill to kick two points from placed balls to salvage a draw for Armagh.

In the additional 20 minutes, the Orchard County made the first move, taking the lead for the first time when Ross McQuillan pointed from play, and stretching the gap to two when Ethan Rafferty came forward to kick his second score of a long afternoon.

Derry kicked the next three points, as the momentum swung once more, only for O'Neill to send the tie to penalties.

Odhran Lynch saved three penalties, before Ciaran McFaul struck home the decisive spot kick to secure Ulster title number eight for the men from the north west.

"It had everything [but] I don't know what it would have been like to watch," he told RTÉ's Sunday Sport afterwards.

"The safest place, and the least nervous place was probably on the pitch. Thank God we got over the line. I didn't really want extra-time or penalties, but these are the circumstances you come to.

"It was a game with two heavyweights going at it and that's why I love Ulster football. I don't want it to go away because you have days like this and it's extra special.

"You don't know what you're going to do until you're there," he added when asked about a final being decided on penalties.

"I was going to go to the other side of the net but my mind just froze and I was like, 'I'm going to the right now.' It's hard to put into words until you're in the circumstance."

Glass was full of praise of his goalkeeper, whose three saves in the penalty shootout were the winning of the title for his side.

"He probably didn't have the best 70 minutes but that shows the mental strength he has. He is that sort of character that can brush off mistakes.

"Some of those saves were Premier League standard so I imagine he'll be getting a call very soon."

Kieran McGeeney says his players "threw everything" at Derry

For Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney, it was a case of trying to deal with a disappointed squad after such a hreatbreaking loss.

"They're hard to take, sport can be a cruel thing at times," he said.

"You know going into it that you're going to have more bad days than good days, even the very best of us.

"It's a disappointing day for the boys. They threw everything at it; could have, should have, and all those things. But we'll just have to get back, pick ourselves up, and get ready for the next game.

Of penalties deciding the game he added: "The very thing they'll probably want out of it is people talking about it.

"They'll get plenty of press. I probably wouldn't be a big fan of how they get the rules but I'm in the same boat as everybody else.

"You sit there, you do what you're told, and you get on with it."

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