McEntee wary of Portlaoise challenge

CROSSMAGLEN, three times All-Ireland club champions between 1997 and 2000, take on Leinster representatives Portlaoise at Parnell Park tomorrow (2.30pm) in a semi-final which may very well decide the destination of the trophy.

Under the expert guidance of Joe Kernan, no longer actively involved but still an influential figure in the background - and with two sons in the current side - Crossmaglen have achieved the proudest record in the competition outside of Nemo Rangers.

The side has evolved, to the stage where only nine of the present panel remain from the team which triumphed against Knockmore, Ballina and Na Fianna in the 1997, ‘99 and 2000 finals.

“We have lost a couple of major players, the likes of Donal Murtagh who was our talisman at full-back and Jim McConville in particular, our captain when we won the All-Irelands. To lose players like that and still win county championships is a big feat,’’ said captain Tony McEntee.

In answer to the inevitable question about the perceived level of under-achievement at provincial level in recent years, he says that winning the county championship had been more or less ‘their main goal.’ In 2003 they felt they could have made a big impression, except that they ‘blew a great chance’ by losing to Derry side Loup in the Ulster semi-final, on a day when John McEntee was sent off and McConville was injured. “The (new) players just hadn’t developed enough to bring us through. And, in the years before that, we didn’t have the strength in depth.

“Even in the Armagh championship last year (2004), we were very lucky at different stages. We had a number of drawn matches and things went our way; we were scoring ten and eleven points in some of the matches, from play - which was something we hadn’t been doing previously.’’

Apart from the McEntee twins and McConville - goalkeeper Paul Hearty and Francie Bellew perform key roles, while Kernan’s sons Aaron and Stephen (who both won All-Ireland Under-21 medals last season), have made a significant impact.

“A few more of the older players are still there, fighting for places, but a lot of them would be on the subs bench. There is a lot of experience there, but it also means that there is a lot of age there and a lot of miles in the legs,’’ added McEntee.

“We know they are very strong and very mobile - and young, the sort of team we don’t cope well against. We have that tradition of never having lost in the All-Ireland series, but it really doesn’t mean much. Portlaoise know they have the ability to beat us on any particular day.’’

For Crossmaglen to win, McEntee says it will require a significant improvement on their pre-Christmas form. But, he believes that the venue will be to their advantage. “We know the field is reasonably tight, so that will help the older players to keep at it and help us to try and cut down the space which Portlaoise will try and exploit.’’ Portlaoise easily disposed of the Dublin champions Kilmacud Crokes before they beat Skryne in the final. They have a lot of talent at their disposal, but, having seen both teams in action, Crossmaglen look the better balanced combination and for that reason I expect them to advance.