Glen Cross Final Bridge

GLEN annexed yet another Ulster title with a powerful display of slick football to land a third successive Paddy McLarnon Cup in Creggan on Saturday afternoon. The well documented dominance at minor level has been backed up.

- Michael McMullan

Crossmaglen, the kings of club football, were swatting aside all in front of them in the first half of earlier rounds but Glen put down a serious statement of intent in Saturday’s final.

By half-time Glen were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead but were the best team on the park, creating and spurning four first-half goal ON tall Cro chances. The intricate passing football, getting men supporting off the shoulder, had served them well since their U12 days. On Saturday it was at its best as Crossmaglen struggled to lay a glove on a Glen machine that was on top in the first half.

Was it a worry? Did they miss too many chances? Had they missed the boat? The questions lingered, but with Conor McDevitt and Cahir McCabe keeping tabs on the O’Neill brothers, it paved the perfect avenue for Glen’s title challenge. Cathal Mulholland, who seems to have been playing forever, pulled the strings from centre back. The pace of Tiarnan Flanagan had the Cross defence tied up in knots and on the inside line Danny Tallon was a scoring threat as Glen led from the front.

Crossmaglen staged a gallant comeback, but with six wasted chances in an eight minute second half spell, their Ulster title hopes faded. It was within their grasp, but it would have been an injustice on a Glen side who never looked like being beaten.

The confidence accumulates from seasons playing together and winning Ulster titles. Subconsciously it has a lasting effect – winning is a habit and Glen know it.

SQUANDERMANIA