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Back in the day - Crossey gets Armagh camogie post - The Irish News, Jan 23 1999

GAA manager John Crossey
GAA manager John Crossey GAA manager John Crossey

JOHN Crossey, Jim Nelson’s assistant over the past two seasons with Antrim, has been appointed manager of the Armagh camogie team.

John lost out to Seamus Elliott in the race to become the Antrim senior hurling manager having been interviewed for the post last weekend.

However Crossey gave his commitment to Armagh some weeks ago and has already had a number of training sessions with the girls.

Armagh’s camogs achieved a lot of success in the mid-nineties but their performances have dipped in the past couple of seasons.

In 1993 Ursula McGuran captained them to All- Ireland Junior success.

A year later Mary Black led them to the All-Ireland Intermediate title and they followed it up by defeating Wexford and Galway on their way to becoming the first Ulster team ever in a Senior League final.

Since then it has been downhill with several of the more senior players stepping down and then, last year, other recognised first-teamers refusing to don the county colours.

There is still a strong nucleus of experienced players in the county and Crossey looks to have got a good response in his training sessions on Sundays in Crossmaglen and on weekday evenings in Keady Leisure Centre. It is understood that Crossey will be in charge of both the senior and junior teams with former goalkeeper Maggie McKee assisting him.

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ACE marksman Martin Coulter junior is causing Ballygalget concern ahead of next month’s All-Ireland club hurling semi-final after trapping a nerve in his back.

Coulter is in his second week of specialist treatment as the Down and Ulster champions prepare to take on Rathnure of Wexford on February 28.

It is hoped that he will have the injury sorted out before their challenge match programme is completed a fortnight before the AIB Championship play-off.

Ballygalget begin a sharpening-up programme of games tomorrow at the Dub against Queen’s, and have matches against Down, UCD and Derry’s senior sides lined up for the next three weeks.

Rathnure are due to meet Dublin University this weekend as their outfit, which includes Paul Codd, Dave Guiney and Rod Guiney, pick up the preparation tempo from the seven points Leinster final defeat of Portlaoise. Paddy Braniff senior, Ballygalget’s team spokesman, said yesterday that they were hopeful that the specialist treatment can resolve Coulter’s setback.

Ballygalget’s beach boys have taken to the shore of the Ards Peninsula to get in vital practice on stickwork

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VAL Andrews, the influential trainer of Sigerson Cup winners Tralee, has emerged as favourite to succeed Liam Austin as Cavan’s new senior football team manager.

It is understood Andrews, a former player with Dublin club side Ballymun Kickhams in the 1980s, was interviewed for the position last night.

His credentials appear to be in a straight contest now with Mattie Kerrigan and Colm Coyle, a three-time All-Ireland Senior Football Championship medalist with Meath.

The interviews held yesterday were the second such session of talks with interested parties this week.