Glen manager Malachy O'Rourke reacts to his team retaining their Ulster title with victory over Scotstown at the Armagh Athletic Grounds.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 Malachy, good teams win one championship, great teams come back and defend it, how does
00:05 that feel?
00:06 It feels great to be honest, especially when you come through the battles that the boys
00:10 have come through. The first day against Carrigan was tough and the last day, as Niamh Conlon
00:14 went to their last game, today as well Scotstoun put in a great performance. Half time we were
00:19 two points behind, they were in a sentency even though they were playing with the wind.
00:23 So we knew that we had to come out and we had to really put in a massive second half
00:26 if we were going to win it. Just delighted the boys showed their character again, they
00:30 really dug in and got the victory.
00:33 What was the message at half time? I'm sure you were happy enough, that weather, we were
00:36 playing a large part in the game and to be only two points down gives you a real target
00:42 to hit at.
00:43 Yeah, we weren't sure that the wind was that big a factor but we felt that those parts
00:48 of the game that we needed to improve in the second half. We just felt that some of their
00:53 possession and kick outs were getting too easy for our liking and then they were able
00:56 to play the ball inside as well and we were giving them a wee bit too much space in there.
01:01 So it was a case of just tightening up around the field but just overall it was a case of
01:05 having more energy all around the field and everybody just raising their level of performance.
01:08 I think that was it more than anything else and just delighted we were able to do that.
01:13 Last ten minutes, I think it's size or level, how big a factor was last year in getting
01:17 those late three points to get these over the line?
01:20 Yeah, well look, every day we go out all of us are trying to concentrate on finishing
01:25 the game strong because it is so important and the games are, so many of these games
01:29 do come down to the last ten minutes and it's as much about holding your head at that stage,
01:34 it's making sure that you're still able to make clear decisions when everything is
01:39 going sort of mad around you. The boys are very good at that and we did do that, that
01:43 was a crucial period for us and just glad to be able to hang on at the end.
01:47 Is it a different feeling from last year? I mean you've seen the euphoria last year
01:50 but you've come back and backed up what you've said.
01:52 You know, it is a wee bit because I suppose when you win one, plenty of teams win one,
01:57 there's not that many teams win two in a row and it is a great feeling of satisfaction
02:03 and I suppose before the game, I suppose people had sort of thought that we weren't playing
02:08 as well and that we weren't ready to win another one so great satisfaction that the boys were
02:15 able to prove themselves again and getting two titles in a row is great going.
02:21 And you have the small matter of Kilmarnock I think it is now but at least you'll be able
02:24 to enjoy your Christmas.
02:25 I would say that, no Kilmarnock, it's going to be another massive challenge, we know that
02:29 from last year what a brilliant team they are. So look it, we'll enjoy this one first
02:33 and then we'll set our sights on them and we'll try to prepare as best we can.