Aaron: Missing Kernan still inspiring Cross

On his Twitter account yesterday, Aaron Kernan revealed he has never been as motivated for a game as this.

It’s understandable. He believes his brother Stephen should be leading out Crossmaglen this afternoon.

But he’s not after the club failed to make a compelling enough case to convince the GAA’s disciplinary authorities that his sending off against Dr Crokes was unjustified. It’s natural for Aaron to trumpet his sibling but he’s unequivocal about it.

“He’s been a great leader for us all year. He’s playing possibly the best football he’s ever played for us. On top of that, he’s been very good for the young boys around the team and making sure and help grow their confidence.”

But there are always silver linings. The vacuum left by Stephen’s presence has been filled by a ferocious inspiration.

As Aaron explained: “I don’t think there’s going to be anything to motivate us more going into an All-Ireland final.”

Even if Stephen Kernan’s case demonstrates Crossmaglen aren’t unbeatable off the pitch, the manner of their victories feed into the belief they are unbeatable on it.

Kernan agrees the likes of last year’s roller coaster semi-final win over Kilmacud Crokes and last month’s equivalent over Dr Crokes feed the aura they are that indomitable.

The key for the players, he says, is not to buy into it too much after believing their hype in 2009.

“If you were to pick up a paper after the last day you may as well have given us the cup and forget all about an All-Ireland final but it doesn’t work like that.

“We’re definitely not going to be foolish enough... we probably got caught up a few years ago with the whole ‘Cross are invincible line’ and got our arses handed to us by Kilmacud. That won’t happen to us again. It was a massive disappointment to be part of the first Cross team to lose an All-Ireland final.

“We know what it feels like, we know you don’t ever want to feel like it again so the ball’s in our court now, it’s up to us to make sure we perform.”

Earlier this week, Paul Hearty said he’d prefer not to win games like those against Crokes because they’re no good for the heart. Kernan agrees but for a different reason.

“It was a complete lack of intensity. It didn’t make for pretty viewing when we looked over the video. We were told that in no uncertain terms by the boys.”

‘The boys’ are, of course, joint-managers Tony McEntee and Gareth O’Neill. Kernan calls them “old school”.

To a man, the panel have credited the pair with Crossmaglen’s recovery after losing to Pearse Óg in a 2009 county quarter-final, ending their run of 13 Armagh titles in a row.

“Sometimes you think ‘ah they’re going to do this tonight’ but they’ll say no, and then spend the night doing something else’,” says Kernan.

“It’s not all about flogging you. They know what’s going to improve us as a team and they seem to know how to get the best out of us as a squad.

“I would say their professionalism is basically the main ingredient in getting us back to two All-Ireland finals in a row.”