Looney says Crokes well motivated for final step

Different season but it’s the same old 2012 that Dr Crokes started as they didn’t mean to go on.

Dejected was the most appropriate word to describe the Munster champions leaving O’Moore Park last February as they were reminded, for the second time in five years they are only the second best black and amber-clad football team in Ireland.

At the time, Crossmaglen’s victory appeared an arresting one, a reverse that looked to have serious damage to Crokes, especially with Harry O’Neill calling it a day shortly afterwards and, as his successor Noel O’Leary insisted, nobody wanting to be manager.