Malachy O’Rourke believes last year’s controversial All-Ireland Club SFC final defeat to Kilmacud Crokes made Glen more ‘united’.

Twelve months on, the Derry champions atoned for that bitter disappointment by producing a late flourish to edge out St Brigid’s and finally get their hands on the Andy Merrigan Cup.

"I think today's victory nearly started from that [the fall-out from last year's final] because the club were really, really solid and together," the winning manager told BBC NI.

"There was a lot of noise outside and a lot of people had their opinions and so on, but the club committee backed the players and backed the manager, saying 'we will back you and whatever you want we will do'.

"The club was really united and I think that stood to us. It meant that we came into this year as a real united club and with a real focus, with everyone behind it and that has followed right through the year.

"That has culminated in getting this victory here today."

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