Why clash of heavyweights will be a treat
Regardless of the tense build-up, an understanding of both teams would suggest the latter.
Dr Crokes’ reputation as a footballing side is well known but it’s conveniently forgotten how Crossmaglen have lost their ‘big bad wolves’ tag.
Whereas before they had Dobermans in the likes of the McEntee twins and Francie Bellew, they now have “terriers”, according to Jamie Clarke.
It’s Clarke’s duel with Colm Cooper — the first time the pair have shared a field — that promises a warming delight on a cold February afternoon.
Alas, the anticipation of the two most outstandingly talented left-footers in the game battling it out has been dimmed somewhat by reaction to the events in O’Moore Park four weeks ago.
Dr Crokes chairman Vincent Casey is an able administrator of a most progressive club but he handed Crossmaglen the initiative when he publicly commented on separate seats for the team’s supporters in the wake of the Dromid Pearses-Derrytresk controversy.
A source close to Tony McEntee says the Crossmaglen joint-manager couldn’t believe their luck when Casey made the remarks.
But how must Crokes feel about the 2007 All-Ireland final when Oisín McConville appeared to overstep before scoring the equalising point?
Here’s how we break down the most anticipated club football game in years:
To say Dr Crokes were hurt after losing the All-Ireland final replay five years ago is an understatement.
It might have come across as sour grapes but some of the treatment they claim their players were subjected to by Crossmaglen supporters only rubbed salt in the wounds and they didn’t shy away from telling everyone about it. Those flashbacks quite possibly would have been largely overlooked had they not been revived in the aftermath of the Dromid Pearses-Derrytresk game.
John McEntee’s two yellow cards and yet managing to stay on the field, the alleged strike on AmbroseO’Donovan after he was red carded... that ill feeling between the clubs has undoubtedly been resurrected in both camps.
Earlier this week, McConville conceded he’d be lying if he said the suggestion of segregation hadn’t motivated them.
Last year word got around that McEntee and Gareth O’Neill had banned the hand-pass in training.
It wasn’t that drastic but there were certain parts of the session when the only transfer of the ball allowed was by the foot.
It seemed like anathema to the type of football espoused previously by Crossmaglen in previous years, but it was indicative of how the management had moved to reflect the type of players now available to them.
“We kick the ball more than any team in the country,” says McConville. “Our style has changed. It has changed big time.”
McConville, now 36, has been a constant since that first All-Ireland title annexed in 1997.
He wouldn’t swap their dogged days but hints he prefers the current brand of football.
“It’s an awful f****** drug, like, being part of something like this and the fear of missing out on something,” he says.
Similarly, Dr Crokes have been playing a type of game that lends itself to the amount of scoring forwards they have in the likes of Colm Cooper, Kieran O’Leary and Daithi Casey.
Under Pat O’Shea, the hand-pass was used more but the belief has always been to get the ball up the field as quickly as possible.
It will surely annoy some readers that Jamie Clarke is being mentioned in the same breath as Colm Cooper, never mind being squared up against him.
But Clarke is the real deal. Six years his junior, he may never reach the heights climbed by Kerry’s captain but his array of skills distinguish him.
While Armagh’s transition these past few years have denied us more examples of his work, his performance in last year’s All-Ireland club final confirmed his status as an exceptional forward. The comparisons with Cooper aren’t contrived — both have an incredible ability to make time and space for themselves as well as an uncanny eye for goal.
Clarke won’t deny he watches Cooper in games and takes heart from the comparisons. “Even his goal in the All-Ireland final, the way he peeled off his defence, it’s just instinct really, it’s obviously nice to be compared to players like Colm.”
The Cooper he faces today is one who’s been stung by his fair share of disappointments this past while.
Losing to Nemo Rangers in last January’s Munster final coupled with having the captaincy when Dublin rained on their parade last September marked a generally disappointing 2011 season for Cooper.
Earlier this month, Paul Galvin intimated the Kerry players are driven by opportunity to honour Cooper now that he’s captain again.
Imagine how Cooper’s club-mates must feel about serving their greatest export.
Dr Crokes’ under-age system put in place by Pat O’Shea continues to thrive while their three pitches and new clubhouse on Lewis Road are thronged with youngsters each weekend. Vibrant it surely is.
Both the structure and the redevelopment were in response to how rugby and soccer had gained stronger footholds in Killarney.
But there was only ever football in Crossmaglen. They are looked upon with envy in Armagh so much so that McConville knows people outside the club feel they are sucking the life out of the county team.
Like Crokes, Crossmaglen managers are bred from within. “I laugh when I see clubs getting the most high-profile manager, pay him whatever and stick him in and expect success and when it doesn’t come in two years he’s out and he is a b*****,” he says. “Peel it back to underage and you will get success.”
Don’t doubt him. It’s why both clubs are in Portlaoise today.
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