Senior Club Championship 2025

Rufus T Firefly

Rufus T Firefly

Well-Known Member
On the basis of what I've seen, I'd say Clann Eireann. In the first thirty minutes last night, they looked very composed right across the pitch. Moved the ball quickly and had a number of scoring threats. Led by ten points to two in the last minute of the first half, and hit the post twice with two great efforts for goals. I thought they got careless and over complicated things and let Killeavey back into it. I couldn't see that happening against yourselves. They are good but by no means unbeatable. Barry McCambridge looked to be limping heavily at the end - would be a big loss if unavailable.

Madden are good, but not as good as we made them out to be, last week. I was impressed with how they came back last night, when staring down the barrel, but the fact they were in that position suggests to me they are a bit off the summit, yet.

Cruppen showed chinks in the Rangers' armour last day out. I've my doubts that the individual excellence of the top Rangers players will be enough to see them go the whole way, but that is by no means impossible. Currently I'd have CE in front, then yourselves, Madden and then St Pats.

But sure what do I know!! o_O
 
winsamsoon

winsamsoon

Well-Known Member
CE played their best football when they kicked the ball in, they had the forwards to win the ball and do the damage, Turbo in the first half got all the room he needed and punished Killeavey 80% of the time. Kelly, McCarthy and Magee were able to deliver long diagonal balls into the forward line and this caused great panic in the killeavey defence. The second half Killeavey were a bit deeper and pressed the ball more which seemed to be effective and essentially nulified the kicking option. It did leave CE a bit toothless, however did they really look like losing the game? I don't think they did and they were able to break at the crucial times and get the score to edge them just far enough in front. Killeavey gave it a massive rattle and have perhaps exposed a chink in CE's armour ie press them high up and stop them at source.

The two semi finals look tasty on paper and I see CE have drifted back out to evens to win it, I would say Madden will be right in the fight in this one, if they have looked at the killeavey game they will def have to bring a high line and intensity from the beginning, they will also have to nulify Turbo and be disciplined in the tackle, he will score if he gets space and he will dispacth the frees for the two pointers. If Madden can get this right then they are in with a banging shot.

Cross/Cullyhanna should be a ding dong battle also, I really can't decide who wins this one as both teams have different strengths, Cross will want to get the ball in and Cullyhanna will want to run it more. This may be their downfall as traditionally Cross will bully them out of it. The link ups and the overlaps from HB are crucial here and again the teams are pretty evenly matched. If pushed I will go for Cross who are getting a few men back (O'Neill and Cumiskey) they may just tip the balance but I think it will be very close. I will go for a draw at FT, Cross in ET.

I'm going to back two draws so someone will most likely win by a cricket score:) also I am not really certain if McQuillan meant that goal and the keeper had a mare, he didn't even raise his arms.
 
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niall1980

Well-Known Member
Not much chat about the final? Who do we think will win or who do we want to win? I cant predict it. A lot will come down to match ups. Who do cullyhanna put on McMullan, who do Madden out on Nugent for example. As to who I want to win? Cullyhanna for me
 
U

Up_the_town

Member
A lot will come down to discipline and if it's a free flowing game.

I think a free flowing game will suit Madden. I can see Madden dominating midfield and putting a high intense press in their forward line for all of Cullyhanna kick outs and forcing turnovers.

It will be nervy and cagey at times but overall I think it'll make for a good final. Hopefully it lives up to the hype and will be great viewing for everyone.
 
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armaghtimmy

Well-Known Member
Madden by 3-6 points. Very impressed with how Harte has them moving and pressing, Cullyhanna tasted success not so long ago so it would be nice for Madden to have their turn, they've been building towards it for a number of years now so they get my vote on this occasion.
 
winsamsoon

winsamsoon

Well-Known Member
It should be an open affair as the masters of the dark arts fell in the semi final, I agree Madden will probably start the way they started against CE, high press, forcing Cullyhann to kick to areas where they are big and strong. I was very impressed with the men coming off the shoulder in the CE game, they always had options when they got into trouble and went through serious work. They will need to see the game out better though as CE could have stole the game late on, which would have been a steal given their dominance.

Cullyhanna are a team that to date have finsihed their games strong so Madden will need to be wary of this, I am not so sure Cullyhanna have the players in the right places to negate the strengths of Madden.

However I think both teams are weak enough at the back and if Cullyhanna can get McQuillan, Duffy and Nugent linking up they could pose huge problems for Madden, will they deploy the spare man to sweep in front of Nugent? One things for sure they can't leave the void of space that Cross left in the semi. There's intriging battles all over the pitch, both teams are similiar in many ways and of course there is the fact that both are going for their first title. Its a massive occassion for both clubs.

I still have that awful tragedy that befell the Grimley/Madden family at heart, There's also a lot of great gaels around the Cullyhanna area who have been in the shadows of Cross for many years, Could it be their time to rise? Add in the whole Casey incident this year and a case can be made for both. I am sure there will be no shortage of motivation and these times will be close to everyones thoughts on the day.

I don't care who wins it as it will be a lift for the county in general to see a fresh set of hands on the cup, Good luck to both teams and make it a great occassion.
 
J

jpowell100

Well-Known Member
I think Madden are a slightly better team but I have a feeling Cullyhanna will do it, with the way they’ve been winning games
 
O

Onlooker

Well-Known Member
I expect Madden to come out of the traps early as Cullyhanna have been a slow starting team all year throughout the championship. Can Madden withstand the inevitable Cullyhanna comeback? I think so, they did it against the better Clann Éireann team in the semi final. Madden by 4
 
S

southsniper97-02

New Member
Ah, the Armagh Senior Football Championship final — Cullyhanna versus Madden. Two clubs, one dream, and a whole lot of history waiting to be made. Neither side has ever lifted the Gerry Fegan Cup, and yet here they are, standing on the brink of immortality. It’s not just a final — it’s a moment decades in the making.

Cullyhanna, the so-called "comeback kings," have made a habit of dragging themselves back from the brink. Their semi-final against Crossmaglen was the stuff of legend — ten points down, and yet they clawed their way back with a mix of grit, guile, and a bit of Nugent magic. Aidan Nugent, by the way, has been nothing short of sensational. Top scorer in the championship, and arguably the player of the tournament. But it’s not just him — Ross McQuillan’s pace, Tony Donnelly’s sharpness, and Shea Hoey’s knack for big moments make this forward line a nightmare to contain.

Then there’s Madden. The Raparees have been quietly building something special. After losing to Cullyhanna in the opening round by a single point, they’ve gone on a five-game tear, dismantling some serious opposition along the way — Pearse Og, Mullaghbawn, Armagh Harps, Maghery, and Clann Eireann. That’s not a soft run. Darragh McMullen has been electric, Conor Grimley is racking up scores for fun, and their half-back line is as attacking as it is disciplined. And let’s not forget Niall Grimley in midfield — a colossus, really, with young Cahal Donnelly buzzing around him.

The midfield battle could be the key. Without Pearse Casey, Cullyhanna have had to reshuffle, with Jason Duffy stepping into the engine room. Can he and his partner — maybe Phelim Savage or Shane Conlon — match the physicality and drive of Madden’s pairing? That’s a subplot worth watching.

Defensively, Madden might just have the edge in terms of man-marking options. Shea Vallely, Oisin O’Hara, Peter Lappin, Tony O’Hagan — all capable of shutting down threats. But can they contain the likes of Nugent and McQuillan for 60+ minutes? That’s a tall order.

And then there’s the psychological side. Cullyhanna have been here before — this is their third final. Madden’s second. Both have tasted the build-up, the pressure, the what-ifs. But neither has crossed the line. So the question lingers in the Armagh air like mist on a cold October morning: if not now, when?
 
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