McConville: Players motivated by Crokes remarks

Oisín McConville admitted Crossmaglen have been motivated by the comments made by the Dr Crokes chairman last month.

Ahead of Saturday’s eagerly awaited All-Ireland semi-final between the clubs in Portlaoise, Vincent Casey called for the Killarney club to be issued with a block of tickets so they could sit together. Casey’s words were interpreted as a call for segregation of supporters, a phenomenon Crossmaglen legend Joe Kernan claimed would see the GAA “shut the gates”.

There are tensions between the clubs ahead of the game which will be played at O’Moore Park, the scene of last month’s controversial All-Ireland JFC semi-final between Tyrone’s Derrytresk and Kerry club Dromid Pearses.