Conor Glass delighted to make a Derry debut 'five years in the making'

Former Ulster Minor Championship winning captain, Glass, spent five years with Hawthorn in the AFL before making the decision to return home in September and linked up with the Derry squad on Wednesday after a period of quarantine. Most onlookers were expecting a period of acclimatisation, including the talented Glen midfielder himself, but he believes Gallagher's decision to thrust him straight into the fray will help him get back up to speed quicker.

"That debut was four or five years in the making so, yeah, I am obviously happy to pull on the jersey for the first time," explained Glass.

"I had my first time back at training there on Wednesday and I felt a bit weird. The game has obviously changed since I last played it but it was great to pull on the jersey and just spend time with the boys. I went for a kick about there on Monday and my foot was actually sore from kicking the ball because it is a different sweet spot from the Aussie Rules ball but, no, it was good to get back kicking about down on the Glen pitch. That was my childhood, I was brought up doing that, so it was great to be back doing it.

"On Wednesday night I was pretty gassed. I was sore because that was my first training session back and to be honest I thought I had no chance of playing but then Rory told me it was best for my learning to actually get a bit of game-time. I only played 15 or 20 minutes (against Longford) but I felt like it did me the world of good, just to get my hands on the ball and get back out against an opposition. It definitely felt good."

And despite the media furore surrounding his return to Gaelic Games, Glass revealed he had no nerves when he the call came 55 minutes into the 2-14 to 0-12 victory in Celtic Park.

"No, no nerves at all," he smiled, "I've have played this ground a fair amount of times so it is more about the excitement of just pulling on the jersey again with this team and hopefully in the future we can achieve something good.

"We were six or seven points up at the start of the second half and credit to Longford they came back at up but I feel like our system pulled through. We have this group of players who are able to finish off the game and that's what we did. We brought on a few subs who scored a goal and a couple of points and it was good to see everyone get involved."

The Glen midfielder said it was a major help in terms of settling back in that so many of the players he played alongside at minor or schools levels now making their way into the Derry senior set-up.

"Most of this team I played with through Derry minors, through underage or schools football, stuff like that, so we have gelled together and had that chemistry before. Obviously then there are the older boys, the more experienced players like Chrissy and those type of boys but it's good that we have a good crop coming through. Hopefully it will help us over the next 10 years.

"I'm still young and this year will probably not be my best year. It will take time to get used to the football again but whatever I can do to help the team over the next couple of weeks and especially against Armagh, I'll do that and put my best foot forward."

ward."