GAA: Glen into first ever All-Ireland Senior Club Football Final

Glen Watty Grahams 1-11 Moycullen 0-12

Glen’s Tiernan Flanagan celebrates his side's first goal

Author: Gareth McCulloughPublished 8th Jan 2023

A gritty performance at Croke Park this afternoon sees Derry's Glen Watty Grahams into their first ever All-Ireland Senior Club Fotball Championship Final.

Malachy O'Rourke's Ulster champions eventually edged out Galway's Moycullen by two points in a tense semi-final at GAA headquarters. Glen will now take on Dublin's Kilmacud Crokes in the decider.

Tiarnán Flanagan’s goal for Glen immediately after half-time proved to be the decisive score.

Glen came out of the traps the quicker of the two sides and raced into a four-point lead with 10 minutes on the clock, before Moycullen eventually registered.

Dessie Conneely and Peter Cooke split the spot for the Connacht outfit, but points from Ethan Doherty and Emmet Bradley ensured Glen would take 0-6 to -04 lead to the interval.

Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke, Tiarnan Flannagan and Conleth McGuckian celebrate.

Flanagan's goal after the restart seems to give the Watty Graham's men the impetus they needed, with Moycullen relying on the free-taking of Conneely to keep them within touching distance.

With seven minutes remaining, Conneely converted a free to close the gap to just two points, 1-9 to 0-10.

But Glen had enough about them to keep their noses sufficiently in front, with both Michael Warnock and Cathal Mulholland hitting crucial points. And they were able to see it out to secure a famous victory, which puts them just one step away from All-Ireland glory.

MATCH STATS

Glen: Connlan Bradley; Cathal Mulholland (0-1), Ryan Dougan, Connor Carville; Tiarnán Flanagan (1-0), Michael Warnock (0-1), Eunan Mulholland; Conor Glass (0-1), Emmet Bradley (0-1); Ethan Doherty (0-2), Jack Doherty, Conor Convery; Alex Doherty, Danny Tallon (0-3, 1f), Conleth McGuckian

Subs: Cahir McCabe for Convery (38), Stevie O’Hara for A Doherty (53)

Moycullen: Andrew Power; Eoghan Kelly, Neil Mulcahy, Conor Corcoran; Micheál O’Reilly, David Wynne, Aidan Claffey; Tom Clarke, Peter Cooke (0-2); Gerard Davoren, Owen Gallagher (0-1), Paul Kelly; Niall Walsh (0-1), Dessie Conneely (0-8, all frees), Seán Kelly.

Subs: Fionn McDonagh for Walsh (53), Conor Bohan for P Kelly (58), Daniel Cox for O’Reilly (60).

Referee: David Gough (Meath)