Diarmi
Well-Known Member
There are certainly a few cu*ts about Cross alright, oh sorry you said cuLts, my badThat they are a cult with a superiority complex helps them too!
There are certainly a few cu*ts about Cross alright, oh sorry you said cuLts, my badThat they are a cult with a superiority complex helps them too!
6 years is along time in footballThis should help clear things up. Very interesting reading.
Split Dublin in halfThis should help clear things up. Very interesting reading.
I have to say I was very surprised that the two counties are similar in population. I actually went in search of the information as I would have thought that Tyrone had a much larger pick but clearly not.
That 1977 breakthrough came about from a bit of re organization initiated a few years before. We had the basic same pool of players but we got our house in order in terms of vision, belief, and set up. I read an article by Peter Makem about Armagh-Down the 1961 Ulster Final. My Dad often talks about that game also. Down were the reigning All Ireland champions but we had them on the ropes. We should have closed it out but lost out to a dubious late goal. Armagh had many quality players then but instead of building on that performance, went off and disappeared into the wilderness for ages. Historically, we just seem to go for long periods gripped by a malaise. I don't believe it is because 'we are a small county' and 'good players only come around once in a generation' but its often that we fall into that way of thinking. That diminishes our self belief, drive and willingness to shake things up when needed
Yup. I remember them winning the 3rd division title against Clare the year before. By a point after a replay.History shows that things can change quickly. The 77 team were in the third division that year if I remember. Could hardly field a team just a couple of years before. We had a few men around the county at that time with vision and a determination to change things.
There was plans released for one somewhere round Portadown direction. No idea how far on it isTyrone and most other counties having Garvaghy and Centre's of Excellence have helped them I am sure. What is the story with Armagh building one? Is Callanbridge still flooded for half the year?
I always felt a great part of Cross's success was due to their large pick and the fact that they did not have the same drop out rate as other clubs with similar populations. Keady being the opposite although granted there is no hurling in Cross.
Well they’ve around 40 or so lads togging out for their second team while a lot of teams scrape together 15 at times during the league so i would imagine they have slightly above average pick…Simple calculation will show that Cross have about the average pick for Armagh clubs, obviously a bit more than the typical Junior club but nothing special in the Senior ranks.
They nick the odd one from surrounding areas and smuggle a few across the border also.
God help any son that isn't interested in football Credit must be given though to keep the conveyor belt going in such a small area.On the population thing I have been over this and over this many times. Within South Armagh Cross is surrounded by 4 clubs within a 4 mile radius, Cullyhanna, Silverbridge, Culloville and Dorsey. 2 senior, 1 upper intermediate and 1 upper junior clubs. Go a few miles further and you have Mullaghbawn, Forkhill, Newtown, Whitecross….3 intermediate and 1 solid junior. All within less than 6-7 miles radius. We have had a solid enough population of around 1300-1400 since as long as I remember. The thing we have is continuity. Families staying put, all investing in the club. Of the 15 that started the AI in 1997 you have 7 of them have sons playing in the club from senior down, not including lads who were on the sub bench that day. McConvilles, McEntees, Bellew’s, Shorts, all will be coming through over the next few years (some already have!). Francie for instance has his own kids but also has a set of triplet nephews coming through u12/14s at the minute, both McEntees have boys, Oisín has 2 sons, Jim McConville has 1 and Jarlath 1. The latter 2 are in the senior set up. Obviously the O Neill’s boys are half McConville as well and there’s 4 of them. Younger than that there’s a group of Kernan boys starting at the younger age groups. This is where our strength is. Continuity.
God help any son that isn't interested in football Credit must be given though to keep the conveyor belt going in such a small area.
Well that's nonsense.Simple calculation will show that Cross have about the average pick for Armagh clubs, obviously a bit more than the typical Junior club but nothing special in the Senior ranks.
What happens to the other lads then? Does one club start fielding a, b and c teams? Cross and Cullyhanna both beside each other, both have first and seconds teams already (Cullyhanna I think didn’t enter one this year but Cross could possibly do the double of championships) Silverbridge and Mullaghbawn would both have big numbers and Dorsey, Forkhill and Cullovile all not too far away and none are struggling as far as I know. Look at Shanes and Cruppen, would they even be a mile apart probably less, both have big numbers at senior and underage. For the amount of teams in and around the Lurgan/portadown area, they all seem to have plenty of numbers as well.I actually wonder what state Armagh football would be in, if there was only one club per parish like seems to be the case in Louth and a lot of other counties. The Cooley peninsula, has 3 teams in it for example, Cooley, St. Pat's and Omeath, but anyone decent there plays for Cooley. Roche Emmets covers Faughart, Kilcurry, Fatima and Brid a'Crinn, that is a fair landmass and population for one club to have. Ardee with a population of around 5,000 is a one club town. While I know there's a lot of politics in Armagh GAA and parishes, there's too many small clubs hindering each other in the same parishes.
I actually wonder what state Armagh football would be in, if there was only one club per parish like seems to be the case in Louth and a lot of other counties. The Cooley peninsula, has 3 teams in it for example, Cooley, St. Pat's and Omeath, but anyone decent there plays for Cooley. Roche Emmets covers Faughart, Kilcurry, Fatima and Brid a'Crinn, that is a fair landmass and population for one club to have. Ardee with a population of around 5,000 is a one club town. While I know there's a lot of politics in Armagh GAA and parishes, there's too many small clubs hindering each other in the same parishes.
Well that's nonsense.