Armagh SFC final: Gavin Cummiskeyon the quest of the footballers in the famous black and yellow stripes to clinch a 12th county title in a row
"As I get older I treasure it a bit more. When I was younger I took it for granted but I suppose every time we go out on the field it's a case of I don't want this to end today. I think that is a big driving force for us." So says Oisín McConville, Crossmaglen native and footballer.
Crossmaglen Rangers will make the short stroll to St Oliver Plunkett Park tomorrow seeking an unprecedented 12th county title in a row.
Since 1996 this south Armagh community have dominated the rugged, sometimes venomous, battleground that is the local championship. Ulster has been their playground, as has been Croke Park on four occasions. They have never lost a final.
What makes it astonishing is this has been achieved during the county's most prosperous era. After guiding Crossmaglen to three All-Ireland club titles in four years, big Joe Kernan became Armagh manager and, in his first year, 2002, a century of hurt was banished by the county's first All-Ireland title.
Several of the boys he threw into the deep end of the club scene were alongside him as men on a team that will be remembered as the greatest never to win a second All-Ireland - try as they might. But that is another tale for another time.
Crossmaglen have no equal in the GAA. Not only have they repeatedly returned to the apex of club football - they are the All-Ireland champions - but they have done so against a backdrop of repression.
From the Red Hands - Cross's initial name - association with the Irish Republican Brotherhood through the Parnell split, the War of Independence and The Civil War and through the Troubles of more recent times, political upheaval has overlapped with the club's history.
When the British army occupied the local RUC barracks in 1971 it blocked the entrance to St Oliver Plunkett Park. An observation post was erected over their pitch. Armed soldiers looked curiously on as the goings on of the Rangers continued unabated.
Between 1970 and 1986 26 members of the British army or RUC were killed by the Provisional IRA in or around Crossmaglen. They considered it bandit country. Everyone was a potential threat so they treated the locals accordingly.
"I was playing at the time," Joe Kernan remembers. "It was desperate but at the same time everyone rallied around the club and kept the football going. We had the odd bit of protesting to be done. We did that honourably and got on with it.
"But it was a big problem. You're trying to play matches and people are walking around the field with guns and helicopters are coming in. Thank God, that is all in the past and now everyone can look forward to the games. The town is buzzing."
Intimidation became a way of life.
"Ah, you just got on with it. Because of the football we became immune to it and it was great, we kept on going, and we weren't going to give in. It made us stronger in one way and more resilient. I suppose we took that on to the field."
When inquiring about the avenues of communication that existed with the British, Kernan breaks through the grim reality of the past with humour. "Well, there had to be because every time the ball went in we had to try and get it out. Some we got out in one piece and some we got out with a hole in them!"
McConville last played on a losing Crossmaglen championship side in 1995 against Kieran McGeeney's Mullaghbawn. He has started every championship game since, only once coming off injured, against Keady in a quarter-final.
McConville was identified early on as the pick of a special group of footballers. The 1993 Crossmaglen minor winning team also included Francie Bellew, the McEntee brothers (John and Tony), Paul Hearty, Cathal Shortt, James Hughes, and Anthony Cunningham. They all made the bold leap from minor to senior football in a matter of weeks.
"At the time we had no choice but to be thrown in there because a lot of the old guard had gone and I suppose some of the players playing senior football weren't as fit as the minors coming up. They had to step aside and let us in. That was it."
The mind's eye shows a young McConville eye-balling a seasoned county defender after conjuring yet another masterful point. Then these older men are hit by the McEntees. If they get through midfield, a baby-faced assassin is waiting.
Bellew, currently sidelined with cruciate damage, is a ferocious footballer. His legend in Gaelic games will only grow as time winds on. Just ask Down's great forward Mickey Linden who was ruthlessly, yet legally, dispatched to hospital during the 2004 Ulster club final victory over Mayobridge.
An argument rages in Armagh football circles. They argue whether Crossmaglen's continued success is a hindrance to the progression of the club game.
Current manager and former captain Donal Murtagh is ideally place to air the grievances that drive his team onwards.
"The league in Armagh has been a shambles this year. There are teams that won't play us. We've had to go to Meath, Louth, Dublin and Derry because our lads needed football. One league match in three months is a disgrace; all right, we played four championship matches in the meantime (Armagh Harps, Dromintee twice and Carrickcruppin in the semi-final) but teams were crying off even when we didn't have our county's players.
"There is a certain amount of resentment when any team is doing well but it's been thrown up to me on several occasions that we are killing football in Armagh, which is total and utter nonsense. Football in Armagh has never been as strong since Cross went on this run.
"When did Armagh ever win an All-Ireland before? When did they ever win a National League? When did they ever win an All-Ireland under-21 title? Never.
"Why should we lower our standards? It's up to them to meet them."
This is straight from the Joe Kernan School of Motivation (you may remember Kernan smashed his 1977 All-Ireland runner's-up plaque against the dressingroom wall at half-time of the 2002 final when Kerry were four points clear and Armagh faced a second-half gale. They won by two thanks to McConville's goal).
In Ulster they are not always afforded due respect either as the thought process sees their club scene as a cake walk.
"We would say we underachieved," says Murtagh. "I retired in 2006 after Bellaghy beat us in the 2005 Ulster club. I told the boys after I was leaving that this team has underachieved and I've told them that several times since." There is, after all, a four-year period (2000 until 2004) where Cross made no impact in Ulster.
Many critics were silenced by the annexing of a fourth All-Ireland title this year - beating a Dr Crokes team guided by the great Colm "Gooch" Cooper in a replay.
How do they manage to keep returning each year? The simple answer is success breeds success. Four of Kernan's five sons are now on the team. The other is playing away at underage. Minor graduate Paul McKeown is another prime example of the flourishing next generation.
It will end someday. It could be tomorrow as a decent Pearse Óg team comes to the crossroads. That is unlikely, though, as Armagh's early championship exit and the inter-county retirement of the McEntees ensured a renewed focus these past few months.
"I'm not sure what's left but even when myself, the McEntees, Hearts (Hearty) and Francie hang up the boots we've got seven, eight players between the last two minor teams to come in," adds McConville. "If we keep reproducing them like that - I think there is another three minors who are ready to come in this year - then it has to be good for Cross football.
"We're going to have to lose the championship at some stage but we're just trying to prolong it as long as we can."
1996:Manager: Joe Kernan; Captain: Jim McConville. Beat Clan Na nGael 3-12 to 1-4 in the final to end a 10 year wait for a county title. Went on to claim Ulster by beating Derry champions Bellaghy in a replay before felling Kerry representatives and defending All-Ireland champions Laune Rangers. Mayo's Knockmore are devoured in the final, primarily, by man of the match Oisín McConville. His brother Jim collects the Andy Merigan Cup.
1997:Manager: Joe Kernan; Captain: John McEntee. Retain their title by beating neighbours Mullaghbawn 0-7 to 0-6. A lull in golden times.
1998: Manager: Joe Kernan; Captain: John McEntee. Hammer Madden 2-16 to 0-9 as the vice grip on the county title is secured by a three-in-a-row. Into Ulster they march where Bellaghy are again cast aside. In a best forgotten All-Ireland final, a late point from John McEntee sees them overcome Ballina.
"I know what it's like to get out of jail now and I've never even been in it. We didn't deserve to win that match," said Kernan
1999: Manager: Joe Kernan; Captain: Anthony Cunningham. Defeat Pearse Óg by 1-11 to 0-6 in the county final. Enniskillen Gaels are dispensed with in the Ulster final before going on to capture three All-Irelands in four years. That Armagh captain Kieran McGeeney was part of the defeated Dublin champions Na Fianna's effort makes victory even sweeter.
"They are a super, super team. I don't think there is any answer to them. It was like trying to hold back an avalanche," said Na Fianna manager Paul Caffrey.
2000:Manager: Joe Kernan; Captain: Anthony Cunningham. Pearse Óg are the victims once more, 0-14 to 1-6, as Cross become the first club in Armagh to record a five-in-a-row since, well, Crossmaglen in the 1920s.
2001:Manager: Ollie Shortt; Captain: Donal Murtagh. Dromintee come strong for two years with the final being a hotly contested affair but Crossmaglen eventually prevail, 2-8 to 1-7.
2002:Manager: Ollie Shortt; Captain: Donal Murtagh. Current manager Donal Murtagh completes his residency as captain with another title but Dromintee pushed them once more, 2-10 to 1-8. Kernan and several Crossmaglen players are part of the county's first All-Ireland success.
2003:Manager: Michael McConville; Captain: John Donaldson. Dromintee again. This time it was a two point game with Cross eventually winning 0-13 to 0-11. Still "underachieving" in Ulster, though.
2004:Manager: Michael McConville; Captain: Tony McEntee. Mullaghbawn are put to the sword for title number nine, 1-9 to 0-6, and Ulster is annexed by beating Down champions Mayobridge, but Portlaoise have their number in the All-Ireland semi-final.
2005:Manager: Michael McConville; Captain: Tony McEntee. Dromintee again the victims as a remarkable 10-in-a-row is achieved.
2006:Manager: Donal Murtagh; Captain: Oisín McConville. Clan Na nGael are beaten in the county final then Ballinderry in Ulster and St Brigid's of Roscommon in the All-Ireland semi-final. After a seven year gap they require a replay to see off Dr Crokes of Kerry.
2007: Manager: Donal Murtagh; Captain: John McEntee
