Football

Will it be Lurgan champagne or black and amber nectar? Underdogs Clann Eireann face Crossmaglen in Armagh Championship decider

Cian McConville is a quick and determined finisher who will spearhead the Crossmaglen attack tomorrow. Pic Philip Walsh.
Cian McConville is a quick and determined finisher who will spearhead the Crossmaglen attack tomorrow. Pic Philip Walsh. Cian McConville is a quick and determined finisher who will spearhead the Crossmaglen attack tomorrow. Pic Philip Walsh.

THE old masters Crossmaglen take on Clann Eireann, the new kids on the block, in an intriguing clash that has rekindled memories of duels between rivals from opposite ends of the county.

In the 1960s Cross won three (two went to replays) out of four final meetings but the Lurgan club did exact a measure of revenge by winning the 1963 decider and the trophy now bears the name of the man who raised it in delight that day 58 years ago.

Gerry Fagan was the Clann Eireann captain then (and in 1954) but his club have endured decades of hard times since while Crossmaglen established themselves as undisputed kings of football in the Orchard county and beyond.

Their Cross star has waned on the provincial and national stages but the Rangers have lost just one knockout championship game in the past four seasons (last year’s final) at county level and they go into tomorrow’s decider as favourites.

Driven on by the O’Neill brothers Rian and Oisin (both Allstar nominees this year) and spearheaded by the scores of Cian McConville, Cross can also rely on the proven quality and experience of Aaron and Tony Kernan, Stephen Morris in midfield and, in defence, James Morgan and Paul Hughes.

Against them, Clann Eireann have assembled a team that includes the experience of Conor Bell in midfield and former Armagh forward Ryan Henderson who is now in his 20th year in senior football. Henderson plays sweeper these days and is a wise old head among a group of potential match-winners who should relish the chance to perform on this stage.

Shea Heffron and Ryan McCambridge are both county standard-defenders, Tiarnan Kelly is a swashbuckling battler around half-forward/midfield and the fleet-footed Conor McConville is another star in the making. Up front, Conor Turbitt is one of the brightest young talents in Ulster football.

So the stage is set for what could (as opposed to should) turn out to be an absorbing battle.

The uncertainty over what may unfold is down to Clann Eireann’s lack of experience at this level. Tommy Coleman’s side was promoted from the intermediate league this year so this occasion will be new to them. Will they settle, will they produce their best?

We don’t know but we do know that Cross will and Coleman will be aware that it’s essential his side starts with purpose tomorrow.

Crossmaglen pride themselves on bursting out of the traps and if they race into an early lead then an already difficult task will become almost impossible for the rookies because they will have to chase the game and push men up the field. That risks being turned over and from there it’s a predictable scenario: two kick-passes later, Cross will have another score on the board and they’ll press the next kick-out and go again.

So Clann Eireann have start well. If they do they can expect Crossmaglen to do what they do and settle into their tried-and-tested formula with kick-outs going to the wings toward Morris or Rian O’Neill.

If Cross get primary possession there, the gameplan has been to target the centre half-forward (Tony Kernan or perhaps Oisin O’Neill) who’ll waste no time kicking the ball up to the full-forward unit Caolan Finnegan, Dara O’Callaghan and McConville, who has registered around a third of his team’s scores this year with his trusty left boot.

Tradition dictates that the men in black-and-amber play that way but their style could suit Clann Eireann. The Lurgan outfit sets up defensively and Cross could end up kicking away a lot of ball into a congested area which will allow Clann Eireann to hit them hard on the counter and they have the athleticism and youth to turn defence into attack in a heartbeat.

In the semi-final against Ballymacnab, Ryan McCambridge broke from the back and scored 1-1 in the first half. McCambridge is well capable of doing the same tomorrow but he will have an important marking role too, probably on Oisin O’Neill which leaves Shea Heffron to pick up Cian McConville.

In midfield, Conor McConville could be matched with Rian O’Neill with Bell on Morris. Rian O’Neill will kick scores no matter who marks him but, on the flip side, McConville could give him plenty to think about going the opposite direction because he is quick across the ground and knows where the posts are himself.

How to use McConville is a microcosm of the predicament facing the Clann Eireann management. Do they play to their strengths or sacrifice them in match-ups that negate Cross?

If the Lurgan men want to win tomorrow, the focus has to be on their own house.

Turbitt and Daniel McGee will be the front two in the Clann Eireann attack. James Morgan could pick up Turbitt but a job further out the field – perhaps on the equally-dangerous Kelly – might suit him better.

If that is the case, Chris Crowley will be trusted with marking ‘Turbo’ who was quiet at times in the semi-final but still produced important scores under pressure to see Clann Eireann into this final.

The Clann Eireann camp has been relaxed in the build-up and if they can treat this as ‘just another game’ and produce their best they have a chance.

The pressure is on Cross, champions 21 times in the last quarter of-a-century. They haven’t lost two finals on-the-trot since 1943 and 1944 but in the O’Neills they have the outstanding individuals and, if the supporting cast play their parts, they get the nod to win tomorrow.