Greater experience gives Cross edge

St Vincent’s v Crossmaglen, Navan, 2pm, (M Duffy, Sligo).

THIS Crossmaglen team has been here before, both literally and figuratively.

Twelve months ago, Donal Murtagh’s side faced an opponent new to this stage of the club competition and squeezed through.

St Brigid’s of Roscommon pushed them to the limit, but it was Cross’ experience as much as Oisin McConville goal that separated the sides.

It was pretty standard fare from the champions.

For all their success, Cross rarely blow opponents out of the water. They seem to prefer the slow strangulation method instead.

The bad news for Vincent’s is that Cross look stronger now than they did then. Youngsters blooded for the first time last year proved their worth in the successful All-Ireland campaign and they will be all the better and more confident for the experience.

The Kernans, McEntees and the rest of the cast we have come to know and fear so much are still there too.

On paper, they simply look far too strong for a Vincent’s side with few household names.

The Dublin side were effective without being spectacular in claiming the county title but they did step up a number of gears in disposing of Portlaoise and Westmeath’s Tyrrellspass in the provincial campaign.

Mossie Quinn and Diarmuid Connolly bring some inter-county nous to the full-forward line, less heralded names like Kevin Golden and Pat Gilroy offer ample aid to them while the defence has been a mean-spirited operation all year.

That said, questions remain about the standard in Leinster this season and Cross have already accounted for Tir Chonaill Gaels in the quarter-final since the new year. All the signs point to a Crossmaglen win but it is likely to be close. Again.

* Verdict: Crossmaglen.