Armagh SFC final/Crossmaglen 1-9 Mullaghbawn 0-6: In the old border country yesterday they were selling lethal looking fireworks by the roadside just like you would strawberries. Some things here are slow to change. Like Crossmaglen winning the Armagh football title.
Yesterday's victory on their home turf brought their ninth consecutive county title, and 34th in total. Few clubs can boast that sort of consistency. Clearly Crossmaglen still have the ability to impact the Ulster championship, and beyond.
That journey begins in Maghera in two weeks' time against Slaughtneil, who yesterday became the new champions of Derry. It's fair to assume they'll present more testing opposition than Mullaghbawn. Youth is still on their side but they have much to learn.
It wasn't vintage Crossmaglen, and had Mullaghbawn a little more nerve and steel they could have caught their south Armagh rivals. They were smothered under the weight of Crossmaglen's reputation, and their county heavyweights Oisín McConville, Francie Bellew and the McEntee twins Tony and John.
It was Mullaghbawn who last beat them in the Armagh championship in 1995. But despite being on the road so long, little has changed in the Crossmaglen set-up. Thirteen of yesterday's panel won their ninth county medal. The most conspicuous new arrivals are the Kernan brothers, Aaron and Stephen, sons of Armagh manager and former Crossmaglen guru Joe Kernan.
Their presence went a long way towards regenerating the hunger it takes to keep a show like this on tour for nine years. The McEntee twins were unyielding and McConville's free-taking provided stability, yet the Kernan brothers generated so much of the team's momentum.
Aaron was constantly chasing and winning ball at wing back, while Stephen's work ethic at midfield set him apart. The latter closed out the scoring with the final point of the match, but for so long the scoreboard was of no real consequence. It was close for a good while, but Crossmaglen always looked winners.
Both teams started tentatively, determined to stop the opposition from playing as much as instigating their own game plan. Possession was at a premium and the game soon flowered into all the trademarks of Ulster football. Low scoring, more stop than start, and plenty of the rough and tumble.
Crucially, it was Crossmaglen who settled first. With so many under-21s on their side Mullaghbawn always seemed to be fighting the authority, and the authority always won. Full forward Cathal Short, who was man of the match when Crossmaglen last collected the All-Ireland club title in 2000, was soon setting up John Murtagh and John McEntee for the early scores. After 15 minutes they had four points on the board, all from play, compared to Mullaghbawn's one, a free from Donal Ferris. In the end the young pretenders would only score twice from play.
Yet at 0-5 to 0-3 at half-time there was still enough edge to the game to keep it interesting, even if Crossmaglen appeared to be coasting. Then a fine point from centre forward Paul Kelly, Mullaghbawn's best player, plus another free from Donal Ferris brought the sides level.
Had they a little more experience and self-belief Mullaghbawn might just have carried the game from there. Instead Crossmaglen squeezed that bit harder. McConville hit three frees in succession and showed up for more ball.
Ten minutes from time came the final punishment. Crossmaglen substitute Colm O'Neill was sent running at goal by Stephen Kernan. His shot, though seemingly going wide, was blocked by corner back Kieran O'Brien - and then calmly handed straight back to O'Neill. The goal was a formality and so was the result.
So the crowds headed for the exits, only the Crossmaglen folk contented, and the sound of those fireworks already rumbling in the distance. And you wonder if any of this will ever change.
CROSSMAGLEN: P Hearty; B McKeown, F Bellow, C Dooley; A Kernan, T McEntee, J Donaldson; S Clarke, S Kernan (0-1); J Murtagh (0-2), J McEntee (0-2), O McConville (0-4, all frees); M McNamee, C Short, J Hughes. Subs: C O'Neill (1-0) for Hughes (38 mins), C Clarke for Murtagh (55 mins), O Bellew for Clarke (60 mins), G Comiskey for Short (62 mins), D Murtagh for Dooley (63 mins).
MULLAGHBAWN: B Tierney; J McParland, J McNulty, K O'Brien; G Smyth, C McKinney, K Quinn; F Daly, M Quinn; J Ferris, P Kelly (0-1), D Ferris (0-5, four frees); P McNulty, G Ferris, E Quinn. Subs: G McCreesh for McKinney (18 mins), R McDonnell for G Ferris (39 mins), B McKinley for P McNulty (47 mins).
Referee: J McKee.
