Ulster Senior Football Club Championship 2010

[supersub]

Jez lump the house on burren at that price! No?

[Applesisapples]

Jez lump the house on burren at that price! No?

Not much point if they are beaten.

[supersub]

Jez lump the house on burren at that price! No?

Not much point if they are beaten.

very good... figure of speech...good bite though

[fan01]

Will Morgan be available to play for Cross after gettin one yellow and then a red....?

[gander]

Tony McEntee said after the game it was two yellows, said the same in all the match reports too.  Never seen the second yellow myself

[mountainboii]

Tony McEntee said after the game it was two yellows, said the same in all the match reports too.  Never seen the second yellow myself

Snap. Pretty sure he was only shown a red, but you'd assume it was supposed to be after a second yellow.

Are Cross appealing Hanratty's red? Whatever about his other activities during the game, he shouldn't have been sent off for that challenge.

[brokencrossbar1]

Tony McEntee said after the game it was two yellows, said the same in all the match reports too.  Never seen the second yellow myself

Snap. Pretty sure he was only shown a red, but you'd assume it was supposed to be after a second yellow.

Are Cross appealing Hanratty's red? Whatever about his other activities during the game, he shouldn't have been sent off for that challenge.

Think they are but not sure.

Burren looking forward to playing Cross from reports I heard.

[drici]

Oisin Scores – Hearty saves to put Cross back on the big stage

Crossmaglen Rangers 1-12 St. Galls 0-09


Crossmaglen Rangers players and mentors lined up to form a guard of honour onto the pitch as Ulster and All-Ireland champions St Gall's came to Oliver Plunkett Park for a tough opening towards the retention of their titles. But the guard of honour was the only respect bestowed upon the visitors as the challengers hunted, harried, chased, withstood some hefty challengers, played a lot of decent football from the first to the last whistle to deservingly defeat the champions 1-12 to 0-09.

From the moment David McKenna fetched the throw-in from referee Joe McQuillan, St Gall's were on the back foot and playing catchup for the remainder of the game. Cross brought in Mickey McNamee for Martin Aherne, from the team on the programme, but it was the two pre match changes by the champions which seemed to knock them off their usual composed selves which saw them embark on a very indisciplined and costly first half performance. Karl Stewart came in for Kevin McGourty in attack with Brendan Martin replacing Paul Veronica at corner back.


Hallow'een is a magical time but spectators at this Ulster quarter final were immediately treated to some daytime magic from the old maestro himself, the legendary Oisin McConville. Oisin fired over the opening score from the foul on McKenna and 3 minutes later he grabbed his second from play, as good a score as any he contributed over the years and the benchmark was already set by Gall's chief tormentor in their last meeting. In between those two opening points Gall's Terry O'Neil was very lucky to escape with only a yellow in an off the ball incident with Tony Kernan. 5 minutes in CJ McGourty opened the visitors account with a pointed free following a pick off the ground but that was quickly cancelled by a brace of frees from Oisin following fouls on Francis Hanratty and Mickey McNamee.

Out of sorts by his own high standards these few games Aaron Kernan was back to his best today with his long probing runs cutting right through the Antrim holders defence to set up scores. Midfielder David McKenna another whose form also returned was the first benefactor of a defence splitting Aaron run as he made it 5-1 with a point off the upright. CJ McGourty took a short free, got the pass back, before disecting the posts to reduce the deficit. Stephen Finnegan broke forward but was hauled down by Karl Stewart who picked up a yellow, as Oisin pointed the free. Midway through the half the visitors got their best score of the game as Sean Kelly came from deep in his own defence with a great run to leave it double scores 6-3. Cross were on top but Tony Kernan over ran a possible goal chance wide, the first of the match which was quickly followed by two more from Mickey McNamee

On twenty minutes Aaron stretched the lead to 4 points converting a free for a foul on McNamee. A minute later a sweet move involving Tony Kernan and Oisin saw McConville play in McNamee for another Rangers point.  The match had been simmering from the off with few expecting it to finish 15 a side and that was confirmed on 22 minutes when, the already booked Stewart, got involved off the ball with Finnegan and on the word of the linesman he was sent packing. Probably realising the folly of his actions he headed straight to the dressing rooms in disgust. Two minutes later the kept busy Ref McQuillan, through no fault of his own dished out another brace of yellow cards to James Morgan and CJ McGourty. No sooner had he the card back in his pocket it was out again for Morgan who made a very rash inexperienced challenge which brought a second yellow followed by a red. The drama did not stop there as in the very next attack Cross were awarded a penalty. A high punt at a point from McNamee was dropping short with McKenna homing in on it as Gall's goalkeeper Gallagher advance to claim the ball. Sean Kelly bundled over McKenna leaving the ref no choice but to award a penalty. Oisin would have hit better penalties that did not go in but this one did go in off the body of Gallagher to stretch the Cross lead 1-8 to 0-3 Michael Pollock replied with a point from play for the champions. McNamee let a goal chance go as the ball slipped from his grasp from a good Aaron Kernan pass. Rangers skipper Paul McKeown under the cosh from Gall's best player Kevin Niblock can count himself lucky for yellow following a dangerous head high challenge.  As Francie Bellew entered the match for Aaron Cunningham CJ McGourty brought a half, full of talking points, to a close with a wide as Cross led the champions 1-8 (1-5 from frees) to 0-4 (2 frees) at the short whistle.

Whatever had spooked the champions they were a pale imitation of the side that had done so well the previous year with their discipline letting them down big time, as they tried to adopt a physical approach, as opposed to their usual style of play. Cross could have put them out of sight in the opening half and it would need more from them, than slight wind assistance, for the second half, if they were to get back into the match.


The Shaftie side introduced Kevin McGourty, for Pollock, for the second half and given the way he played one wonders what had stopped him from starting in the first place as he coverd the pitch trying to get his team back into the match. McKenna again won the throw-in and the ball was worked down to new full forward Francie Bellew. Holding off a few strong challenges Francie picked out Oisin with the ball and he started this half like the first with the opening point. Gall's were denied a goal by alert captain McKeown who cleared off the line from Niblock after a miss judgement by Hearty (which was his only blemish on an outstanding performance). C J pointed for Gall's following a foul on Niblock but Rangers reply was swift as Aaron Kernan played a one two with Francis Hanratty before pointing to make it 1-10 to 0-5. Brendan McKeown came in for his captain in his first Cross start since breaking his leg as Mark Kelly came in for Gall's midfielder Sean Burke

Gall's enjoyed their best spell of the match in the next 10 minutes. Niblock steered a "45″ between the sticks.  A routine catch by Francie Bellew spilled from his grasp and on instinct reacted by pulling Rory Gallagher, a penalty lifeline for the holders. Kevin Niblock struck a low shot but Hearty stretched his big frame to get down and execute an excellent save, which was followed by a free out. Eventhough CJ reduced the deficit to 6 points 1-10 to 0-7 with a converted free with 20 minurtes left on the clock one sensed that the golden opportunity to launch a fightback had passed. Paul and Stephen Kernan worked the ball out of defence with Stephen surveying his options before letting David McKenna in for his second point of the afternoon.  County final hero Kyle Carragher came in for McNamee and Kieran McGourty was replaced by Sean Burns for Gall's. One of the biggest cheers of the day was reserved for the return of John McEntee. The rumours all week proved to be true as he came out of retirement to come in for Francie Bellew who had come in for some tough treatment since he himself entered the fray.  It was John who ended a six minute scoreless spell with a point, following good work by Tony Kernan 1-12 to 0-07.  Cj lofted over a point his teams first score for 11 minutes. Gallagher saved from Aaron Kernan at the expense of a "45″ which was put wide by Tony Kernan, Rangers fourth wide of the half. Paul Hearty pushed away a goalbound effort from substitute Darren O'Hare. Kyle Carragher had a point attempt come back off the upright as a shoulder charge by Jonny Hanratty on Niblock in the last minutes saw a harsh straight red produced. Niblock whose only blemish on the day was the penalty miss scored the free which brought the game to an end 1-12 to 0-9.

Unimpressive in their Armagh campaign Cross were a different breed against St Gall's. They work hard throughout the field and their new style of football is beginning to show a better blending with every outing. As I said in my match preview this Cross team deserve to be judged on their own merits not those of previous teams. The quality on the bench is keeping those on the field on their toes. The four old stalwarts Paul, Francie, Oisin and John survivors from 1996 are going as strong as ever but as always Cross pride themselves on their collectiveness. The Armagh champions are through to an Ulster semi-final meeting with either Burren (Down) or Eoghan Rua (Derry) on Nov 14.

As Man of the Match Oisin said to me after the match "We need to learn to be a bit cuter to kill off the game when it's there". That's the secret of good champions always looking and seeking to learn regardless of what you have done before.

Rangers Team: P Hearty; P McKeown; P Kernan; J Morgan; A Kernan (0 – 02); D O'Callaghan; S Finnegan; J Hanratty; D McKenna (0 – 02); T Kernan; S Kernan; F Hanratty; M McNamee (0 – 01); A Cunningham; O McConville (1 – 06). Subs: F Bellew for A Cunningham; B McKeown for P McKeown; K Carragher for M McNamee; J McEntee (0 – 01) for F Bellew; M Aherne for F Hanratty

[Banana Man]

right bit of chat in today's off the fence in the IN about the cross St Galls game, Cross coming in for a right bashing

[armaghniac]

right bit of chat in today's off the fence in the IN about the cross St Galls game, Cross coming in for a right bashing

All the IN journos contributed then, did they?

[swing-er-over]

coleraine are a solid bet at 11/10 with ladbrokes.


Coleraine by 3/4, theyll have far too much pace for Burren

[el_cuervo_fc]

right bit of chat in today's off the fence in the IN about the cross St Galls game, Cross coming in for a right bashing

All the IN journos contributed then, did they?

Poor wee St Galls getting bullied by those bad men from Crossmaglen. 

It amazes me how blind some people can be. From what I seen at the match St Galls were just as guilty, if not more so of the off the ball stuff. The soft frees for cross that the papers have been crying about were due to the lack of discipline from the St Galls players. Cynical tackles that cost them in the end up. The only reason they were soft frees is because they left the referee with no choice but to award them.

[HiMucker]

I agree with that el cuervo.  Watching it on the TV i didnt think that there was much dirt.  Maybe i couldn see some of the off the ball stuff, but what I did see St Galls were up to just as much as cross.  Dont recall seeing any scoreable soft frees given against St Galls, some tackles were poor and unesessary, as scores from play are very difficult this time of year.  However the boy on the line getting dunted by the cross sub was totally uncalled for, and i see no justification for it.  There should action taken for it.  This was not just a club championship game, this was a game played by two of the best club sides there has been in this country and watched by many, an advertisement for our games, and things like that off the pitch should not be accepted.

[imtommygunn]

St Galls discipline in the tackle, particularly first half, was shocking. It wasn't like these were cynical tackles - they were minor things like jersey pulls etc. You can't win games against teams with top class free takers when you're at that kind of behaviour.

There was nothing significantly cynical in them though.

I thought Cross looked like they were *potentially* at some off the ball stuff. St Galls have a few mouthy guys though so even if Cross were at a wee bit of it they may have just complained like hell.

Hard no know - no one side any guiltier than the other to be honest. Cross deserved to have their men sent off and Galls deserved theirs.

[DuffleKing]

Jaysus but the standard of sports writing in the cross examiner is brutal