Crokes steeled in the fire

CROSSMAGLEN have built their reputation on the back of a staggering run of victories in the past 13 years but Kilmacud Crokes defender Niall Corkery believes it is past defeats that can act as their springboard to success on St Patrick’s Day.

The Stillorgan club has been Dublin’s most successful in the current decade but defeats in two county finals as well as reversals in previous provincial and All-Ireland campaigns have steeled them for the fire next week.

“A pattern has emerged with this team,” Corkery explained. “When I first came on the scene (in 2003) we had lost a county title. The next year we won the county title and lost in Leinster.

“The year after that we won the county title and won Leinster and got to the All-Ireland semi-final. This team seems to be hardened by loss. It strengthens the resolve. We come so close and then we fall at the final hurdle.

“We look at other teams walking up the steps in Croke Park and think that probably should have been us. It’s great motivation losing at a late stage in a competition. You see how close you were and it drives you to go one better next year.”

Never was that as true as 12 months ago when Corkery watched St Vincent’s claim the All-Ireland title. Crokes had lost to their Dublin rivals by two points in the county championship earlier that season.

“When you see a team do that it annoys you. I was delighted for them but, in the same breath, they’re our bitter rivals so I wasn’t over the moon. I was happy to see them win it but it just proved that we weren’t a million miles away.”

That experience has convinced Corkery that the side is better equipped to reach the summit than was the case in 2006 when they lost their semi-final to Salthill-Knocknacarra.

Another, more concrete, reason is the increase in strength in depth brought on by the injection of youth into the side. Ross O’Carroll is 21, his brother Rory 19.

All are part of a fresh-faced defensive unit and their assimilation into the starting XV means that men like Nickey McGrath, veterans with over 30 championship appearances for the club, are stand-in in reserve.

“We’ve improved tenfold with the squad we have there,” said midfielder Darren Magee.

“Three years ago we didn’t have the bench that we do now. Our bench is going to be the winning of the game on Tuesday without a shadow of a doubt.

“I’m getting to 27 now. I was still only a chap of 25 or so (three years ago) and that experience of losing an All-Ireland semi-final has stood to us. A lot of that team are fed up of being on the back end of a loss.

“We’re not looking back on what could have been. We’re looking forward, as opposed to looking back. We know we could have done something in 2005 and let it slip through our fingers. What happened three years ago has stood to us.”

It seems odd to say it about a side preparing for a championship final but Crokes have yet to hit their full stride despite enduring a campaign that has stretched through 15 games.

Every player, as well as manager Paddy Carr, admits as much. Crossmaglen have won more than one All-Ireland despite playing to less than their potential but it is difficult to see Crokes managing that feat against the competition’s blue bloods.

“I suppose playing in Dublin has its advantages and disadvantages,” said Magee. “Parnell Park wouldn’t be the ideal ground even though it is home. The wide open spaces would favour us more where we can let the lads like Vaughan and Davoren really open up the jets.

“In saying that, we feel there is a big performance in us somewhere but we have to come out of the traps flying early on because there’s no second chance.

“You will be a long time before you’ll get another shot at it. There is a big performance there and we just have to produce it.”