Malachy O'Rourke

Q: How would you characterise Glen’s season to date? A: To win Derry, to win Ulster and then to lose an All-Ireland final last season, it’s a long road back to try and retain the county title.

DERRY’S senior football championship final takes place on October 29. That is six-and-a-half weeks away.

Dungiven were no match for the under-strength Maghera men

Kilmacud Crokes have submitted a counter-objection to the CCCC following last Sunday’s All-Ireland club final.

GLEN will seek clarification from the GAA on whether yesterday’s nail-biting All-Ireland final should be replayed because Kilmacud had 16 players on the field when Conleth McGuckian drilled in a last-gasp shot.

A DECADE-and-a-bit ago, Malachy O’Rourke was holidaying down the country.

MALACHY O’Rourke is one of life’s good guys.

FROM the scenes of madcap celebration that greeted a maiden Ulster title, it was sheer relief that swept from the stands as Glen held off a late Moycullen charge to seal an All-Ireland final showdown with Kilmacud Croke’s.

“Once the game with Armagh ended you were back to dealing with Brendan Og’s passing. You were up at the house and his mother and father were so grateful to see you but you were thinking how were they getting on with this? So many young faces at a house, so many just trying to process it.” The road to Dublin beckons on this Friday afternoon. Thirty-five on this day and still at the top of his game. As he ponders the future he admits to fearing retirement “somewhat” and probably knows he shouldn’t be still playing at elite level because of an enduring hip problem that will inevitably need surgery once he calls time on his brilliant career. But, for now, we should enjoy this footballing poet from the parish of Clontibret. Hard as nails and blessed with the hands and feet of an angel. The Conor McManus legend rolls on – at least for another year…