Crossmaglen the ‘acid test’ says battle-hardened Quinn
Quinn dismissed suggestions his side will struggle to match their Ulster counterparts in this area: “There is more being made of that than there actually is. We have come on a lot in terms of our overall physical strength. Even our younger players are very physically strong. Crossmaglen play really good football, and this game will be decided on who plays the best football on Saturday, not what team is stronger than the other.”
The Dr Crokes full-back, who admits he will have his hands full trying to contain Crossmaglen veteran Oisín McConville, is also convinced that their 2007 final clash, and replay which Crossmaglen won, will have no bearing on this encounter.
One of just seven survivors from the Crokes starting team that drew the original All-Ireland club final in ‘07 — along with Keith McMahon, Ambrose O’Donovan, Eoin Brosnan, Kieran O’Leary, Brian Looney and Colm Cooper — Quinn admits Saturday is a defining test for this side. “It’s the acid test for us. It’s a huge championship match, the biggest that this current group of players has faced.”
Meanwhile, Crossmaglen and Armagh goalkeeper Paul Hearty admits there is a special sense of motivation about facing Kerry teams. “I think so,” said Hearty. “I grew up with the Golden Years video of Kerry going around the house with the ‘Bomber’ Liston, Jack O’Shea, Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy and all these boys.
“There is an air about Kerry and Kerry teams, and the fantastic players that have been and gone and that are there at the minute.
“Kerry are always there. You go to the bookies at the minute and see who are the favourites for the Sam Maguire? It is always Kerry. I suppose there is an edge playing Kerry teams and we have been fortunate enough that we have been able to compete and beat Kerry on some occasions as well. There is something unique about playing a Kerry team.”
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