Kilmacud Crokes 2-10 Glen 1-14: Malachy O'Rourke delighted after 'a wee bit of panic'

Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke admitted his side "were worried" by Kilmacud Croke's fight back but he was delighted to reach the All-Ireland Club final.

Glen avenged last year's controversial final defeat by the Dubliners with a dramatic 1-14 to 2-10 win in Newry.

Shane Walsh's late goal set up a grandstand finish but Glen held on to win at a fog-filled Pairc Esler.

"There probably was a wee bit of panic as well but the boys were able to see it out," O'Rourke said.

"We're delighted with that."

• Glen gain revenge to book All-Ireland final spot

Glen put in a superb first-half showing as they mastered the conditions to lead 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time.

That lead extended to seven soon after the restart but Kilmacud Crokes, who beat Glen in the decider last year after the controversial 16th-man appeals process, hit back.

The game was level but Emmett Bradley's point and Ethan Doherty's goal into an unguarded Crokes net looked to have booked a place in the final as the game moved into injury-time.

But there was still time for further excitement as Walsh's long punt forward ended up in the Glen net before the Galway star missed a chance to level the match right at the death.

A relieved O'Rourke said he felt there was "going to be a bit of drama about the game".

"I thought in the first half, we gained great control of the game. We went two points down and then we were in a commanding position at half-time.

"And we started the second half well as well. Then we sort of lost our way. We were finding it hard when we did get possession. We were finding it hard to control it and get scores and then they put a big press on us and we were finding it hard to get our hands on the ball at times.

"The game was going against us but the boys showed great character. Then when we did go four points up, it looked as it we had it won and then to concede the goal at the end was tough as well. No just delighted to get through and to get us back to where we were last year."

'Not talking about revenge'

Malachy O'Rourke's side mastered the foggy conditions in the first half

In a highly-anticipated rematch with Kilmacud, O'Rourke was adamant the thought of revenge had not entered the mind of his players.

The Dubliners had a 16th player on the pitch in the closing stages of the 2023 final and, after a counter-appeal, Glen withdrew their initial and Kilmacud were confirmed as champions.

Glen will now face St Brigid's of Roscommon in the final in at Croke Park on 21 January as the Derry and Ulster champions look to put right their defeat in the decider 12 months ago.

"We're weren't talking about revenge. Kilmacud have proved themselves to be the top team in Ireland," O'Rourke added. "That was the challenge that faced us today if we wanted to get a chance (to win an All-Ireland).

"Ourselves and St Brigid's now have the chance to be the top team in Ireland. We were very focused on what we had to do today."

O'Rourke added that the final with the Connacht champions will be a "50-50" game.

"St Brigid's have come in under the radar in many ways because there was so much spotlight on this game so they will be rubbing their hands as well. It's up to us to deal with the two weeks well, to prepare really well and try and give a good account of ourselves.

"St Brigid's have won an All-Ireland not that many years ago so they are no strangers to Croke Park either. It's quite simple. You just have to go out and perform.

"You can talk all you want and there can be any amount of noise around it and going on about last year. It's very simple. We deserve nothing. We've got ourselves into a final, the exact same as St Brigid's and the best team on the day will win it."