Cracking Crossmaglen show from Earley

Imposing midfielder Dermot Earley reeled in the years when he shone in Kildare's 0-12 to 0-10 NFL Division 1B defeat of champions Armagh yesterday.

The 6ft 3in Earley looked back in the sort of the form that secured him an All-Star award in the Lilywhites' Leinster championship-winning year of 1998. He landed two excellent points and put in an exhibition of fielding to dent the Orchard county's title hopes at 'Fortress Crossmaglen'.