Declan Glass is compiling an increasingly impressive array of medals — even if the Dundee United starlet isn’t entirely sure where they all are.
Glass, 22, enjoyed his fourth taste of silverware while on loan at Derry City, helping the Candystripes end a decade-long wait for FAI Cup glory.
The creative midfielder previously claimed a League Two title with Cove Rangers and won the Championship on two occasions, with United and during a stint with Kilmarnock last season.
“I give the medals to my family,” Glass told Courier Sport. “They probably mean a bit more to them than they do to me.
“It’s special for them to keep and enjoy — while I can think about when the next one might come.
“They can keep them where they want. But if you see any of them on eBay, give me a shout!”
He added: “I feel fortunate to have been a part of some very good teams and I never take that — or those experiences — for granted.”
Special
Although Glass did not feature in the stunning 4-0 victory over Shelbourne in the Aviva Stadium showpiece, the Tannadice kid made his mark and earned his medal during the run.
He notched a hat-trick and two assists on his debut, a 7-0 FAI Cup win over Oliver Bond Celtic. He also featured against Cork City in a later round and started the semi-final triumph over Treaty United.
“My first game at Derry was in the cup and we said from that point: we wanted to go all the way and win it,” recalled Glass. “So, to achieve that was special. My time at the club was book-ended by the cup and it was an incredible way to finish.”
While professional pride abounds, Glass was particularly delighted for the people of Derry, with around 20,000 fans making the 300-mile round-trip to Dublin to watch their heroes — including ex-United man Mark Connolly — lift the big prize.
“We walked out of the tunnel at the Aviva and saw the way the Derry fans were outnumbering the Shelbourne supporters,” recalled Glass. “That’s when it really hit home just how much this meant to the club and the city.
“There was an exciting build-up for a couple of weeks before the final and you got a sense of how big it was. To get about 20,000 people following us to Dublin — especially when times are tough — was amazing to see.
“We were so desperate to deliver for them.
“The gaffer (Ruaidhrí Higgins) is from Derry and a good few of the lads grew up there, in times when things maybe weren’t so good. Every member of that squad knew what it meant to the city.”
Learning curve
While memorable and formative, Glass’ time in Derry was also frustrating at times.
A hamstring complaint derailed his early momentum and, with the Candystripes flying and challenging for the League of Ireland title, Higgins was understandably loath to change a winning team.
Glass ultimately made seven appearances for the club; less than he would have liked, having crossed the water for regular football ahead of a push for more minutes at Tannadice in the second half of the season.
“I picked up a slight injury and, although it might sound like an easy excuse, that didn’t help,” continued Glass. “When you join a team as good as Derry — especially when they are on a good run — it does make it difficult to get back in.
“But it was still a great experience. It is up to me to learn from that experience and use it in a positive way. If I do that, then I know it’ll stand me in good stead.”
He added: “You want to be involved in challenging for titles and trophies and I’m lucky that, throughout my career, that has generally been the case, whether at United, Cove or Kilmarnock. That has been instilled in me — you’ve got to win.
“That’s the mentality you need and, again, that was the case at Derry.”
Connolly connection
Glass was also fulsome in his praise of Connolly, his former United teammate.
The vastly experienced defender made 67 appearances for the Tangerines before joining Derry earlier this year and was a pivotal sounding board.
“Our first day (at Derry) was together and we stayed in the same hotel for the first couple of days,” added Glass. “He was the only familiar face for me, and I was probably one of the only one for him.
“We did speak a lot, and I feel fortunate that I had someone like Mark there. It was my first time playing and living away from Scotland, so that was a different challenge — and it was great to have his support.
“The lads were really good. It’s a terrific dressing room and they made me feel welcome from day one. I don’t have a bad word to say about the experience.”
Conversation