Football

Tony Kernan boost for Crossmaglen ahead of Ulster clash with Tyrone champions Coalisland

Tony Kernan will return for Crossmaglen Rangers in tonight's clash with Coalisland Na Fianna
Tony Kernan will return for Crossmaglen Rangers in tonight's clash with Coalisland Na Fianna Tony Kernan will return for Crossmaglen Rangers in tonight's clash with Coalisland Na Fianna

TONY Kernan’s return brings the Crossmaglen panel up to full-strength for tonight’s Ulster quarter-final against Coalisland at the Athletic Grounds.

Kernan’s fitness boost is a timely one for the Rangers who make their return to the provincial stage after two years on the sidelines against Damien O’Hagan’s Tyrone champions.

Coalisland beat Killyclogher to win their first Tyrone title since 2010 (their 10th overall) the same day Donal Murtagh’s Crossmaglen saw off a game Ballymacnab side to reclaim the Orchard county’s Gerry Fagan Cup after a two-year hiatus.

Former Armagh playmaker Kernan missed that game and the wins over Cullyhanna and Armagh Harps but he has the pedigree to step straight back into the Cross side tonight. His club are likely to need his subtle range of passing to break down a well-organised Coalisland side whose strength lies in a star-studded rearguard that includes 2018 GAA Allstar Padraig Hampsey.

“We’re probably as good as we have been all year,” said Crossmaglen manager Murtagh.

“We had a lot of injuries and players unavailable early in the year but we got James Morgan and Paul Hughes back in now and they are starting to come good. I’d say we’re almost as strong as we can be.

“Tony should be fit to take part so we should be at full strength. He has done a lot of work and it’s good to get him back.”

Crossmaglen struggled in the early stages of the Armagh championship but came good in the knockout rounds while Coalisland saved perhaps their most fluent performance in Tyrone for the final.

“They are more of a counterattacking team, they get men behind the ball and then try and break,” said Murtagh.

“We’ll have to see what way it pans out but we’d be expecting something along those lines. At the same time they got a couple of goals the last day from fairly quick, long ball up the field and they have a couple of physical players around that area too.

“Tyrone teams are never easy beat. They’re always well-drilled, well-coached and well up for it, so there won’t be anything handy. You won’t get a handy game at this level.

“They have quality players at the back – the two Hampseys (Eoghain and Padraig), (Michael) McKernan, (Dan) Fee and (Stephen) McNally who can keep attacking up the field. The standard of players in Tyrone is always very good so we know Coalisland won’t be easy beat.”