Conor Glass: Derry captain 'pitched Derry manager's post to O'Rourke'
- Published
Glen won the All-Ireland Club Championship under Malachy O'Rourke earlier in January
Derry captain Conor Glass has revealed that he spoke to his club manager at Glen, Malachy O'Rourke, about taking over as manager of the Oak Leafers.
The Derry job became vacant after the 2023 inter-county season when interim manager Ciaran Meenagh indicated he did not want to succeed Rory Gallagher in the role on a permanent basis.
O'Rourke spent seven years as Monaghan manager, having also managed Fermanagh.
"I chatted to him and asked if he was keen to take the job," explained Glass.
O'Rourke led Glen to the All-Ireland final in 2023 and has subsequently guided the Derry champions to success in the 2024 decider.
Speaking on the GAA Social on BBC Sounds, Glass explains that he tried to pitch the inter-county job to his club boss last year when Meenagh stepped down after leading the Oak Leafers to the Ulster SFC title and All-Ireland semi-finals.
"At the beginning there was a few names thrown up, with Malachy being one," Glass added. "The amount of high-end managers in Ulster was probably minimal at that stage.
"Malachy was probably the main one for us, with the connection at Glen and knowing Derry football.
"It was more so Stephen Barker [Derry's operations manager] and the rest of the Derry county board. Ultimately they make the decisions.
"I had a sit down with Malachy at the house, and I'm sure he's comfortable saying this now he has the All-Ireland success.
"We felt like he was the man for the job. Malachy acknowledged it and probably felt privileged to be spoken about in that regard because everyone was saying how Derry needed to get a top-level manager to go to the next level.
"He felt it was a privilege for him to be in that category. His focus was Glen and he said he had unfinished business with Glen."
Glass added the conversation, which took place in secret just before Glen training, left him with "mixed emotions" as he wanted O'Rourke to take over as Derry boss.
Glass went on to play a starring role as O'Rourke led Glen to an elusive All-Ireland success over Connacht side St Brigid's at Croke Park on 21 January.
"That's the drive he had, it was unfinished business and thankfully it's paid off," Glass added.
When asked if O'Rourke would have taken the job if he was not with Glen, Glass responded: "The honest answer is I don't know.
"A county job is pretty much a full-time job now and he was probably enjoying that freedom of club football and time with the family.
"I've no doubt if he had taken the Derry job he would have done a fantastic job with it."
Kerry's David Clifford came up against Conor Glass in the 2023 All-Ireland semi-final
In a move that caused shockwaves through the game, Derry turned to Mickey Harte, who had long-standing success with bitter rivals Tyrone.
Glass admits he was "shocked" by the new manager and he only found out on Twitter, now X, while on a break in Cavan with his partner.
"I was shocked. I didn't think his name was on the table because he was with Louth, it was nothing to do with the Tyrone connection.
"To be fair to Stephen, I left it in his court. He said he would get a top-end manager and I trusted his word.
"To be fair to him, he was under serious pressure at the time to get stuff over the line. To be fair, he did and I trust his decision.
"Mickey's record speaks for itself. He's won the All-Ireland three times and that is what we need, someone who has been to the well and got over the line on All-Ireland final day."
In a wide-ranging interview on The GAA Social, Glass also discusses his recent engagement to Peter Canavan's niece, his hectic schedule, Derry's rivalry with Tyrone and Glen's recent All-Ireland triumph.