McEntee plays down Kernan compliment

Crossmaglen Rangers joint manager Tony McEntee played down the compliments showered on him and Gareth O'Neill by captain Stephen Kernan in his post-match speech, after the Armagh outfit were crowned All-Ireland Club SFC Champions for the sixth time on Saturday.

Kernan hailed McEntee and O'Neill as the best management team in Ireland after he accepted the Andy Merrigan Cup from GAA director general Paraic Duffy.

Speaking after the replay win over Westmeath club Garrycastle, McEntee was keen to play down the Crossmaglen captain's comments.

"I think he meant club teams! The boys aren't that hard to manage really," he said.

"It's about putting structures in place and giving them the determination to work towards something and giving the skills and abilities then and a way to do it.

"It's simply to create a path for those boys to shine on the field - after that it's up to them, and that's what they do best."

Crossmaglen are now within a whisker of joining Nemo Rangers on seven All-Ireland club titles. Later this year they will also embark on a journey which they will hope can finish in an unprecedented three in-a-row.

"Everything is possible. They are a young, fresh team and outside of Oisin McConville and Paul Hearty, there's nobody over 30," added McEntee.

"They have played now 1,000 days in the Championship without being beaten and it think that creates its own problems.

"They need a break now, they have a lot of injuries and they need a mental break as well. Is 365 more days unbeaten impossible? No, but it's asking a lot."