Lurgan clasico underlines Armagh power shift
ON THE MARCH: Clann Eireann's Barry McCambridge breaks away from the challenge of St. Peter's' Aidan News in the Armagh SFC. Pic: Leah Scholes, Inpho
For so long, when people thought of Lurgan, one word came to mind – Buckfast. Now though, its population is intoxicated with something very different and that’s football.
The tonic wine was so popular in the Armagh town, reported at one stage to make up a quarter of all alcohol sales, that it earned the moniker ‘Lurgan Champagne’. A badge of honour for some, an embarrassment for others who bristled at the thought of their home being reduced to such catcalls.
There’s no doubt what the big show in town is now though, and that will be manifestly clear on Sunday at the Athletic Grounds in the first all-Lurgan Armagh SFC final since 1968, and a repeat of that decider too, as Clann Éireann meet Clan na Gael.
You could argue that the 1973 final, when the Clans defeated Wolfe Tones, was a Lurgan affair too, but the latter are on the periphery of the town and very much identify as Derrymacash first, Lurgan second.
It’s no coincidence that Armagh’s 2024 All-Ireland success owed a lot to a Lurgan influence, nearly every Orchard County highpoint seems to.
In the years before and after Armagh’s second-ever All-Ireland final appearance, the ’77 loss to Dublin, the town was bustling with talent.
Clann Éireann kicked off the ‘60s by losing three finals in a row before defeating Crossmaglen a year later. The late ‘60s and early ‘70s undoubtedly belonged to the Clans though with a series of county titles being accompanied by a trio of Ulster crowns.
That 1977 Armagh team was led out by Jimmy Smyth with the likes of his fellow Clan na Gael teammates Colm McKinstry, Noel O’Hagan and the legendary Jim McKerr, Sarsfields’ pair Denis Stevenson and Brian McAlinden, Paddy ‘Mo’ Moriarty of the Tones and Clann Éireann’s Frank Toman making sizeable contributions, the latter holding the unique distinction of being the only player to win Hogan Cups with two different schools (St Colman’s, Newry and St Mary’s, Belfast).
Armagh’s All-Ireland breakthrough in 2002 had a real south Armagh influence, nine starters hailing from the border area, but in 2024, it was Lurgan who made their mark with Clann Éireann having three starters in the form of Player of the Year candidate Barry McCambridge, All-Star hopeful Conor Turbitt and Tiernan Kelly. St Paul’s Andy Murnin lined out at full-forward while Clan na Gael’s Stefan Campbell made a huge impact off the bench.
The balance of power in the county seems to have shifted, for now at least anyway.
Just like Lurgan was once associated with Buckfast, Armagh was once known for Crossmaglen.
The Rangers had an incredible run of 19 county titles in 20 years from 1996 onwards and those teams were backboned by players who won so many underage titles coming up.
Now though, even the underage scene has a strong Lurgan tint.
When Clann Éireann won this year’s Armagh minor title, the cup didn’t have to travel far having been at the Clans the year before. That same year, St Peter’s, who had Neil Lennon’s grandfather Neilly Moore playing when they conquered Armagh in 1951, came so close to shocking a heavily-fancied Dromintee in the U16 final before losing in the replay.
This is not by chance, rather by design.
It’s widely accepted within the county that about 20 years ago, Clann Éireann stole a march when it came to underage development and everyone – including Cross – are still playing catch up. What clubs are doing now from underage up, they were doing long before that. Their ambition of converting that into senior success was sometimes mocked, but in time they shut up any doubters.
If anything, the fact that they haven’t added to their 2021 county title, their first since 1963, is a bit of a disappointment given their undeniable talent and they’ll be keen to rectify that this Sunday.
Their opponents carry with them that swagger though that can often count for something on final day. Crossmaglen may be the Armagh kingpins, but Clans are the Lurgan aristocrats.
The Blues were at intermediate level as recently as 2020, but back-to-back final appearances and an underage system making huge strides, with ‘02 star Diarmaid Marsden prominent in that development, means that there’s no doubting that the Clans are back.
They are the only unbeaten team in this year’s championship and in Stefan Campbell they have a player in inspirational form. His battle with Barry McCambridge will be the highlight duel in the Cathedral city.
The buzz of July 28 and Armagh’s All-Ireland triumph has been latched onto by the Lurgan GAA community and the good times keep coming for so many in the town with St Paul’s in the Intermediate final against Carrickcruppen in the curtain-raiser.
Some clubs will feel different, and may end up proving it too, but for now, you can keep your tonic wine, Lurgan is the football hub of Armagh.
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