Armagh Club football & hurling

[ogshead]

Maybe I lost the run of myself at the end of my comments there, apologies to any offended clubs (well I know I did)!! My point was anyway is that people outside of Crossmaglen classify South Armagh as the invincible area. It's a catagory marked out by Crossmaglen's success. No other club in my opinion is better than the other and we all try our hardest... there's some shit talked on  this thread about who is better than who and taking potshots at clubs who are struggling a bit (and I'm glad I wasn't around for the StPats/Bridge debate). Anyway, it was just I noticed the comment about the all south armagh final and felt I had to comment, it will be all down to the day and I hope we win, get to final and hopefully cause an upset but I would bear no hard feelings if Killeavy got to the final. It caused a bit of debate there so I'm glad my first comment got a reaction and again my apologies to anyone offended!!

[corn02]

regarding the whole cullyhann bridge argument ending corn and i hope this doesn't trigger it of again.

ah yes, hopefully so.

Does any true Gael see a rivarly between north, south and mid? I m all for competitiveness but who gives a damn where the players are from?

[illdecide]

regarding the whole cullyhann bridge argument ending corn and i hope this doesn't trigger it of again.

ah yes, hopefully so.

Does any true Gael see a rivarly between north, south and mid? I m all for competitiveness but who gives a damn where the players are from?

I believe North & South Armagh have a we bit of rivalry, well thats the general view in the North but i believe it's more of an inferior complex that the North have over the South. Majority of the teams in the North are beaten before they go out to play their Southern Brethren (Can't understand myself)

[brokencrossbar1]

We were told growing up that teams in the North didn't like the lads coming with the "straw on their boots"  It's a load of auld balls anyway, you're either good enough or not.  In the 40's and 60's it was Clann Eireann, in the 50's the Harps, in the 70's and 80's it was the Clans.  Cross are the only constant, with the 50's being the only decade they never won a championship.  The reality though is that outsdie of Cross, Mullaghbawn won the one in 1995 to supplement the one the won in 1964, before that you have to go to the early 80's when Cruppen won 3 I think(they won 4 others either as Cruppen or Geraldines), Killeavey won 3, the last in 1948, Newtown won back to back ones 1940-41, Shane O'neills won 2 and Whitecross have the distinction of the first SA team to win it in 1905.

The over all breakdown is North 22, Mid 31, South 53.  Obviously Cross dominate the south figures with 37, so that gives you an idea of where things sit.  

It all means nothing really just a few interesting titbits.

[naka]

cross are also fortunate to have the biggest pick of players in Armagh, cruppen won championships at senior level  only when they had a pick that rivalled cross ie( no belleeks, corrinshego,Shanes etc), whilst plaudits should go to cross it isnt a level playing field
I sincerely hope the ogs or killeavey end their reign as its unhealthy

[Goats Do Shave]

cross are also fortunate to have the biggest pick of players in Armagh, cruppen won championships at senior level  only when they had a pick that rivalled cross ie( no belleeks, corrinshego,Shanes etc), whilst plaudits should go to cross it isnt a level playing field
I sincerely hope the ogs or killeavey end their reign as its unhealthy

Pardon my ignorance, but is Silverbridge & Culloville, not closer to Crossmaglen than Beleeks & Corrinshego? - & No disrespect to the latter 2 clubs, but Silverbridge & Culloville are both Div 1 teams!

EDIT - Sorry Silverbridge aren't - but still...

[brokencrossbar1]

cross are also fortunate to have the biggest pick of players in Armagh, cruppen won championships at senior level  only when they had a pick that rivalled cross ie( no belleeks, corrinshego,Shanes etc), whilst plaudits should go to cross it isnt a level playing field
I sincerely hope the ogs or killeavey end their reign as its unhealthy

Bullshit Naka.  That last census carried out stated that Cross town has a population of under 1600.  I would estimate that if you include the environment around it that actual level of people in the vicinity is around 6000.  If you consider that you have a pull of Silverbridge, Cullaville and to a lesser extent Cullyhanna, this shit about a bigger pick can be put in perspective.  Keady has a similar size population, Killeavey and Dromintee are the only clubs in a very large geographical area.  Shane O'Neills and Carrickcruppen are the only clubs in a larger urban area than Cross.  Mullaghbawn stretches from the top of Sturgan Brae, the whole way over to Forkill, then around the bottom of the hills to McGeoughs old shop on the Newry Road, up towards Beleelks old field and then across to Lislea.  I can guarantee that the majority of families in that geographical area are involved and that doesn't include the village itself.  It is an easy excuse to make, the simple fact is that there is a better set up on Cross than any other club and that is the main reason behind success.

[corn02]

The main reason maybe BC but to suggest Cross do not have a much bigge pick than the average south armagh team is foolish.

[bennydorano]

What is the Primary School set up in around that whole area?  Are the likes of Silverbridge, Cullyhanna, Mullabawn, Cullaville catered for by their own schools are do they all go to St Pat's PS in Cross? 

[armaghniac]

What is the Primary School set up in around that whole area?  Are the likes of Silverbridge, Cullyhanna, Mullabawn, Cullaville catered for by their own schools are do they all go to St Pat's PS in Cross?

All of these clubs have a primary school in their area.

The relevant website (http://www.denidata.nics.gov.uk/) appears to be down, but it might be interesting to look at the numbers in these schools as a measure of the pick in an area.

Cross has not much more than 2000 people in its "zone". More than its neighbours for sure, but there is a strong football culture in those parts. I think there was one year when all 4 clubs in Upper Creggan were graded senior, although the Bridge, Culloville and Naomh Malachi are mostly Intermediate.

To put the Cross pick in perspective the average catchment for an Armagh club probably has 1500 (divide nationalist pop of Armagh by no of clubs). Taking out the Junior/Div 4 clubs the average would be higher.

[illdecide]

We were told growing up that teams in the North didn't like the lads coming with the "straw on their boots"  

But there is this feeling among some guys in North Armagh that the South Armagh men are made of Concrete and the North guys crumble when they play South Armagh teams. As for me personally i loved playing against South Armagh teams as i was always out to show that steel will crumble concrete

I believe it's 15 men against 15 men and whoever wants it the most will win. As for who has the bigger catchment areas i know nothing about that side of things from down here. Maybe you hoors are drinking diesel up there and thats what's making you look 30 when you are only 15

[bennydorano]

I asked as the Principal of St Pat's was telling me that when they won the McGreevy Cup last year the players recieved a Guard of Honour from members of the Cross Senior panel.  Something like that is bound to have a big effect on any young lad and if you are not from Cross & unless your Da is going to drag to Silverbridge underage training or wherever you'd likely want to go to Cross.  If you get them young, you'll likely keep them.

[naka]

Bc i dont believe what i say is bullshit, cross are the only team in a fiercely gaelic community who are also extremely wealthy( money fron ocupation of the grounds etc)  their only opposition was st johns which was quickly diffused,cullyhanna have 2 clubs competing,  keady have a hurling team which cross dont have,mullaghbawn have forkhill pinching 1/2 players, shanes and cruppen compete in an area that holds its allegiance to soccer, as does killeavey, lurgan is a soccer area with say 5 clubs competing,
to say u operate under the same constraints as everyone else is naive
whilst I respect cross, i have more respect for the guys who run phelim bradies, clady, lissummon madden etc

[corn02]

Naka you have a point in there somewhere to suggest the likes of the runners of Phelims do more than The people who run cross is crazy.

[naka]

corn I didnt say that what i said is that the guys who are involved in  phelim bradys etc these clubs know success will probably nver come to their underage teams nor their senior teams yet they still, mark the pitch chase sponsorship etc, I see that as a far harder and difficult  task than being involved in the most successful club in armaghs historyi