Glen on the precipice of history as they prepare for Derry Senior Football Championship final

Glen will look to make history as they defend their Derry Senior Championship title on Sunday against Newbridge at Celtic Park.

Watty Graham's will become only the third club to win four senior championships in a row should they beat their opponents, joining an illustrious list with Slaughtneil and Bellaghy. 

However, Johnny Bradley, a member of the Glen management, says the squad is not distracted by the chance to make history and is focused on their performance. 

He said: “We don’t take it for granted.

“We are feeling really good; since the championship began, we have taken each game on its own merits, and as the games have gone on, the boys have really performed well.

“We had to approach it this way, to be honest, with just how the championship is structured. 

You look at the games with Lavey and Slaughtneil, you couldn’t look further forward than each individual fixture.

“You really understand how difficult it is to win a Derry championship.”

Glen were pushed all the way by both Lavey in the quarterfinal and then Slaughtneil in the semifinal.

This has been the way for the current All-Ireland club champions throughout the whole league and championship campaign.

Bradley said: “I think every year, whoever is the reigning champion in the championship has a massive target on their back, and you could see that in the league that teams were really upping their game whenever they were playing against us. 

“The boys have had to really dig deep and show a lot of character, putting their shoulder to the wheel.

“Every match had its own challenges.”

The country looked on in shock as Kilmacud Crokes were beaten in the Dublin Senior Football Championship final by Cuala, with last year’s beaten All-Ireland club finalists unable to avenge this and reclaim the trophy, which they won in 2023.

Glen will want to have their name in the conversation for this competition once again and reach their third final in as many years, but they know the daunting challenge Newbridge poses.

Bradley said: “Newbridge as a club over the last few years has been on the rise; you can see it in underage results; you can see it with their championship performances over the last two or three years. 

“They are a very coachable team; they are really fit, they are really strong, and they have serious leaders in the likes of Conor Doherty, and Padraig McGrogan is still there supporting the boys after his injury last year.

“They have serious players that have played county level and MacRory level: Mark, Conor, and Shane McGrogan; Mark and Conor Doherty; and James Gribben in nets who has built on a strong MacRory cup as well.

"Look, they have plenty of pace; they can get up and down the field, and Kevin and Gary have them very well drilled to know what they are at.

“You can see they are a real team, and that is something to really marvel at.”

Bradley admitted that Glen were disappointed with their first half performance against Magherafelt last year, and if it is the same this year, Newbridge will make them pay.

However, he has full trust in his side, making history on Sunday when the ball is thrown in at 3 pm.

He said: “We are happy with the manner of our performances, but in saying that we understand in those games there have been periods where we have been poor, we know that going into the final against a young, fit Newbridge side, we will have to up our performance significantly.

“We are looking forward to it, and hopefully the boys perform the way I know they can.”