Malachy O'Rourke: Glen boss says journey to All-Ireland title began with last year's final defeat

Glen boss Malachy O'Rourke says their journey to a first All-Ireland club title success began with how the club reacted to the controversy surrounding their defeat in last year's final.

Glen staged a dramatic late fightback to beat St Brigid's 2-10 to 1-12 in Sunday's final at Croke Park.

It was redemption for the Derry club after their loss in last year's decider by Kilmacud Crokes, who were shown to have 16 men on the pitch at one stage during the dying seconds of the game.

"I think today's victory nearly started from that [the fall-out from last year's final] because the club were really, really solid and together," O'Rourke told BBC Sport NI.

"There was a lot of noise outside and a lot of people had their opinions and so on, but the club committee backed the players and backed the manager, saying 'we will back you and whatever you want we will do'.

"The club was really united and I think that stood to us. It meant that we came into this year as a real united club and with a real focus, with everyone behind it and that has followed right through the year. That has culminated in getting this victory here today."

Sunday's one-point win at a wet and windy Croke Park was also a first All-Ireland success for O'Rourke.

The former Monaghan and Fermanagh boss has experienced a lot in the GAA as a player and manager, but chose to speak about what it meant to the club, players and community to enjoy the first All-Ireland win in Glen's history.

"It is not about me and I have only been in two All-Ireland finals," he continued.

"It is nothing to do with me at all, my joy comes from seeing the boys improve and seeing the joy that it gives to the community.

"I don't think my life is going to change that much whether I'd won an All-Ireland or not. I am delighted to win an All-Ireland, of course I am, but you are just delighted for the players, the whole club and the community."

'We saved our worst to last'

O'Rourke and Glass celebrate their All-Ireland win

Despite being many people's favourites going into Sunday's final, Glen produced a ragged performance throughout most of the game.

They were three points down going into the closing stages before a tremendous Conor Glass goal brought them level, with Emmett Bradley and Conleth McGuckian points putting them ahead and ensuring they won despite Shane Cunnane pulling one back for St Brigid's.

O'Rourke admitted his side had not performed well but, while saying he felt sorry for their opponents, his team still deserved their victory.

"We saved our worst to last, nearly. I think the boys deserve it because they have been brilliant over the last few years.

"We just struggled to get going. We lost a few players through injury, we kicked a lot of wides and were just finding it very, very hard to get any fluency into our game.

"It wasn't looking great but that is one thing about the boys - they don't give up, they keep going until the last minute. Then we had someone like Conor there who can do something like that to score a brilliant goal."

He added: "It was unbelievable [Glass's goal]. It wasn't a sure thing and wasn't really set up for a goal, he just took it on himself. That is what we talk about all the time, having the courage to not leave anything, to not die wondering.

"Conor took that leadership on and buried it into the back of the net. The type of goal it was just gave us a real boost at that time. It energised the boys and the game took on a new lease of life for us after that, and it looked then like we were going to get over the line."