Three’s company for Derry’s Conor

CONOR GLASS says a ‘three peat’ would be “awesome.”

Derry begin the defence of their Ulster title at Celtic Park against Donegal this Saturday night.

It’s a meeting of the Division 1 and Division 2 champions and the sternest test possible.

If Derry take their eyes off what’s directly in front of them, they’ll be beaten.

But there is a bigger prize at stake, the county’s first ever Ulster three-in-a-row.

Last year was only the second time they’d gone back to back (1975/76) and just the ninth provincial title in their entire history, leaving them second bottom in the Ulster roll of honour.

Awesome

So, Mickey Harte’s side are not exactly Ulster Championship specialists.

A three-in-a-row would be special.

“It would be awesome,” says Glass. “To think that we were in Division 4 six years ago, to possibly going for three Ulster titles in a row.

“It’s obviously something that is fantastic for the county of Derry.

“As players, we are in a bubble and we don’t pay too much attention to external noise.

“But as athletes and competitors you obviously want to achieve.”

The 2022 extra-time Ulster final victory over Donegal was Derry’s first Ulster title in 24 years.

Emotion

Amazingly, they’d only been in one provincial final across 21 years, the 2011 defeat by Donegal at Clones, bridging an 11 year gap to the one point defeat by Armagh in 2000.

The Donegal triumph two years ago spawned a new generation of fans and brought a huge outpouring of emotion after almost a quarter of a century of pain.

Glass felt it all.

“If you asked me that the day after we beat Donegal, I would have said (it was) number one,” he says.

“But it changes. It’s fantastic. Obviously the club campaign is clearly number one now.

“Your career and your goals are always changing and that is the beauty of sport.

“Derry was in a weird sort of position. We have always had the players.

“But it took Rory Gallagher coming in, having – I wouldn’t say that professional aspect to it, especially with some of the managers we have had – but it took that knowledge of him being there in Donegal in an AllIreland.

“He knew what it took to get the house in order, what levels of self-belief (were needed) in the players to know we are the best.

“That was from us playing in Division 3, so it shows you the mindset that us Derry players have.”