Glen hold off Maigh Cuilinn to book first ever All-Ireland final spot

ALL-IRELAND CLUB SFC SEMI-FINAL

Glen 1-11 Maigh Cuilinn 0-12

By Michael McMullan

AN EARLY second half goal from Tiarnán Flanagan proved the key score as Glen booked a first ever their place in an All-Ireland final.

The Watties made life difficult for themselves in the second half and it took a late block by Jack Doherty to deny Peter Cooke with a half goal chance in the last play of the game.

All the key players were on the Glen side and the two-point margin didn’t do them justice, such was their control of the game against a Maigh Cuilinn side that didn’t offer enough from open play.

Glen got off the best possible start and led by four points before Maigh Cuilinn got off the mark.

The Galway men kept the ball for much of the opening exchanges before turning over the ball and it was Glen who bossed the next ten minutes.

Tallon opened the account after Eunan Mulholland’s high attempt for a point wasn’t dealt with and he benefited from a recycled ball.

Emmett Bradley brushed Peter Cooke aside to score Glen’s second point. Tallon added a third before Ethan Doherty got away from Michéal O’Reilly to make it four.

Dessie Conneely replied with two frees and the Glen’s frustration with referee David Gough saw Michael Warnock booked and coach Ryan Porter showed a red card in separate incidents.

Speaking after the game, Glen midfielder Conor Glass said the Meath official’s performance was “below average” on the day.

Peter Cooke fired over a first Maigh Cuilinn point from play, but Ethan Doherty and Emmett Bradley added points to give Glen a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.

Glen got the second half off with a bang. Jack Doherty’s ball picked out brother Alex with a dinked pass who played in Eunan Mulholland and when goalkeeper Power saved, Tiarnán Flanagan – a talented soccer player – hammered the rebound to the net.

The Ulster champions were always able to keep four points ahead for much of the third quarter before Conneely’s frees helped the Galway men back into the game.

Glass hit the point of the second half after Connlan Bradley’s excellent kick-out over the top of midfield was won excellently by Ethan Doherty.

Cathal Mulholland and Michael Warnock added points, but Glen’s loose possession allowed Maigh Cuilinn to come back onto them and it took Doherty’s late block to seal their All-Ireland final spot.

Glen: Connlan Bradley; Michael Warnock (0-1), Ryan Dougan; Tiarnán Flanagan (1-0); Cathal Mulholland (0-1), Connor Carville; Ethan Doherty (0-2); Conor Glass (0-1), Emmett Bradley (0-3, 1f); Conleth McGuckian; Eunan Mulholland, Jack Doherty, Conor Convery; Alex Doherty, Danny Tallon (0-3, 1f)
Subs: Cahir McCabe for C Convery (38), Stevie O’Hara for A Doherty (53)

Black card: D Tallon (65)
Yellow cards: M Warnock (20), C Convery (30+2), C McGuckian (57)

Maigh Cuilinn: Andrew Power; Conor Corcoran, Neil Mulcahy; Ger Davoren, David Wynne, Aidan Claffey; Eoghan Kelly; Tom Clarke, Paul Kelly; Peter Cooke (0-2); Micheál O’Reilly, Niall Walsh (0-1), Seán Kelly; Owen Gallagher (0-1), Dessie Conneely (0-8, 7f, 1m)
Subs: Fionn McDonagh for N Walsh (53), Conor Bohan for P Kelly (58), Daniel Cox for M O’Reilly (60)

Referee: David Gough (Meath)