All-Ireland Club SFC Final (replay)/Crossmanglen Rangers 0-13 Dr Crokes 1-5:Planning a course of action to counter the Crossmaglen style is all well and good but implementing tactics to actually overturn their physical supremacy and footballing excellence is rarely achieved. They simply don't lose finals.
Engaging the men of south Armagh in a war of attrition has proved folly for 11 consecutive years at county level.
Yesterday, Crossmaglen were crowned national champions for the fourth time since 1997. Four of this 15 - the McEntee twins, Tony and John, captain Oisín McConville and goalkeeper Paul Hearty - have been there every step of the way.
This game was not lost by Colm Cooper tamely striking a 41st minute penalty to Hearty's left. Nor was it in the failure of Longford referee Eugene Murtagh to send John McEntee off after a second yellow card.
As the Dr Crokes chairman Patrick O'Sullivan understandably raised hell on the line, Crossmaglen manager Donal Murtagh calmly told Stephen Clarke to warm up, replacing McEntee four minutes later.)
No, defeat came during an immensely physical second-half when Rangers wore the opposition down. As only they know how.
"It wasn't something we were surprised with because they always use their physicality to their advantage," said outgoing Dr Crokes and incoming Kerry manager Pat O'Shea. "We tried to match it for a little bit but we weren't able to cope with their strength, to be honest."
A monumental feat by a unique community. Success breeding success. Just look at the influence here from the sons of Joe Kernan.
This club consistently returns to the well of champions due to an inbuilt thirst for success allied, of course, with magnificent footballing talent. Two of the Kernan brothers, Aaron and Stephen, and the great Oisín McConville must receive a special mention for their performances.
It was a proud day for the Armagh manager who sat in the Portlaoise VIP section alongside his youngest son, Ross Kernan, the injured Tony was amongst the panel, while Paul had the arduous task of containing arguably the best footballer in Ireland. Cooper kicked one point from play.
Crossmaglen came out for the second-half with a two-point advantage, 0-7 to 0-5, and a stiff breeze behind them. Aaron Kernan, eventually named man of the match, got matters under way with a smart point. They seemed primed to pull away.
But Cooper was never going to let this day pass without leaving his imprint of quality.
He combined with the initially lively Kieran O'Leary for 0-5 midway through the first half as Dr Crokes reeled in the Ulster champions' lightning start. The fifth point was a genuine goal opportunity but Cooper blazed high after a delicious catch over Paul Kernan's head.
The older Kernan brothers pulled it level with a score apiece before a McConville brace brought matters to the interval.
The pre-match Crokes injury concerns, Bryan McMahon and Eoin Brosnan, were anonymous. Centre back McMahon lasted 27 minutes, before returning late on, while Brosnan only livened up as matters reached a crescendo.
There were early signs of the vicious undercurrent that would follow.
Marauding Rangers midfielder David McKenna was felled by a scandalous David Moloney high tackle. Aaron Kernan was cautioned next (there were 12 yellow cards in total) for ploughing into Éanna Kavanagh.
Seven minutes after the break, Cooper's mastery was unveiled. He slipped Paul Kernan down the end line, drawing Francie Bellew before freeing Moloney, who dispatched to the net. Bellew emptied Cooper with a follow through. Still, all square.
The Kerry magician dusted himself off and created havoc moments later, again finding Moloney in space. The full forward was fouled by Brendan McKeown. Penalty. But Cooper's tamely-hit effort was easily gathered by Hearty.
Soon after McKenna somehow avoided a straight red card for kneeing Cooper in the head. Then came McEntee's second booking. Two delightful scores from McConville and Stephen Kernan followed in quick succession.
Sandwiched between these strikes was a second yellow, and this time a red card, for defender John Donaldson. A harsh call considering what had gone before but someone had to go.
As the sideline crackled with activity, McEntee was replaced, and Crokes' numerical advantage was nullified as midfielder Ambrose O'Donovan picked up a second yellow.
Aaron Kernan popped over a free. Cooper was back inside, miles from the activity. McConville landed another free. In reply, Cooper struck a wide when faced by a wall of striped jerseys.
And so it went, with McConville's sixth point concluding the scoring.
Any chance of this achievement being overshadowed by the Kerrymen seeking justice for the McEntee oversight was dismissed by O'Shea.
"Absolutely not. That's not our form. The bottom line is I have gone in and congratulated them. We don't have any complaints. We gave it a fair shot and I'm proud of every one of the lads. We're young enough so hopefully, the club will come back and get stronger from that."
The trauma of being ravaged by Crossmaglen Rangers tends to have that effect. On the strong- willed, anyway.
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Hearty; P Kernan, F Bellew, S McNamee; A Kernan (0-3, two frees), J Donaldson, B McKeown; D McKenna, T McEntee; M Aherne (0-1), J McEntee, J Murtagh (0-1); M McNamee, J Hanratty, O McConville (0-6, four frees). Subs: S Kernan (0-2) for M McNamee (6 mins); S Clarke for J McEntee (49 mins); C Shortt for M Aherne (53 mins); S Finnegan for S McNamee (57 mins).
DR CROKES: K Cremin; K McMahon, L Quinn, M Moloney; B Moriarty, B McMahon, E Kavanagh; A O'Donovan, E Brosnan; B Looney, S Doolan, J Fleming; C Cooper (0-3, two frees), D Moloney (1-0), K O'Leary (0-2). Subs: J Cahillane for B McMahon (27 mins); B McMahon for B Looney; K Brosnan for S Doolan (both 54 mins).
Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).
