Oisin happy Cross have reason to smile

O’Neill happy Crossmaglen has reason to smile=

Crossmaglen Rangers 1-19

Killeavy 0-17

By Steve Malone

CROSSMAGLEN Rangers’ star Oisin O’Neill revealed that Sunday’s Armagh Senior Club Championship win was sheer relief for him and many of his team-mates agreed.

The way they exited last years’ championship wrangled, having been pipped by a phenomenal Cullyhanna comeback, after giving a 40-minutes exhibition performance, was one reason but not the main one.

“It is just huge relief, from the last time we were here [in a county final] we lost two huge people in our club and that is pure relief there,” said O’Neill.

“I have played in Ireland Finals and Ulster Finals and in all those games I have never felt pressure like a felt before this game today. I am so, so happy that we just got over the line and that we could put a smile back on our club and our community.”

Captain Callum Cumiskey dedicated Crossmaglen’s record breaking 48th county senior title to the memory of former team-mate Caolan Stringer Finnegan, who tragically died from brain cancer in August 2024, while O’Neill’s grandmother and Crossmaglen legend Margret McConville sadly passed away earlier this year.

“What those young fellas went through, no group of young fellas should ever half to go through that. Caolan was our friend and all, but he was so close to some of them young boys and he was their best friend, and they stood up today and I am so delighted for them,” O’Neill said.

“Because they stood up and led us today, it wasn’t my best game, it wasn’t Rian’s best game and it wasn’t Cian’s best game and people will talk about that and probably teams focus so much on us that the other boys got a little bit of space and they did unbelievable work there today and it was them that steered the ship over the line.”

Of course, Rangers had Armagh stars such as the O’Neill brothers of Oisin, Rian and Aaron and their cousin Cian McConville, but it was the young guns Pearse Blessing, Aaron Haughey, Harry Cumiskey, Odhran Caraher and Keelan McEntee that came to the fore as Crossmaglen had six championship final debutants.

Played in Armagh’s Box-IT Athletic Grounds, Pearse Blessings goal on 47 minutes was the turning point in a game that had little to choose between the sides. Killeavy will feel that the left some chances behind, but they took the game and showed no sign of nervousness given it was 78-years ago from the clubs’ senior championship title win.

Callum O’Hare stroked over a two-pointer to set his side on their way. Cian McConville had already opened the scoring, but Killeavy responded with the next six points from the lively Fergal Boylan, Ciaron O’Hanlon and goalkeeper Shea Magill on target. Stevie McDonnnell’s men were on top but Crossmaglen hit back with O’Neill brothers Aaron and Oisin doing the needful points before cousin Cian McConville, who had a great battle with Conor Magennis, tagged on another score.

Rian O’Neill made a great dummy run and as the chasing pack followed, his brother Oisin welcomed the space left as he fired over a classy two-pointer. Oisin and Harry Cumiskey stretched Crossmaglen’s lead, but Killeavy finished the half strongly with Gareth Murphy and then Conor O’Neill making it only a two-point game at the break.

Goalkeeper Magill, Ciaron O’Hanlon and Cathal Boylan put Killeavy ahead, but they left some chances behind, and a relieved Crossmaglen made them pay. Captain Callum Cumiskey was unlucky to strike the post, but 21-year-old Blessing made no mistake when he had the chance on 47 minutes with a fine finish into the Killeavy net, to ensure an enthralling final ten minutes.

The game was still in the balance before points from young Keelan McEntee, Pearse Blessing and Cian McConville helped Crossmaglen pull away in the final minutes.

Fergal Boylan’s fine score gave Killeavy a glimmer of hope, but Rangers held out to record another county championship title victor. Stevie McDonnell’s side can be proud of the season they had, and they are young enough to keep knocking on

Armagh’s door while Crossmaglen will make the trip to Breffni Park to face recent Cavan champions Gowna, who beat Kingscourt on Sunday.

Have Crossmaglen timed their run to make an assault on the Ulster Championship?

Oisin O’Neill said that his team was always going to make hay once they got their full team fit and available and feels that the unity at the club is as strong as ever.

“Killeavy to be fair they gave us a difficult battle, they never lay down and I am just delighted and over the moon,” said O’Neill.

“We didn’t have our full team during the league and we knew what was coming, I got married and missed a game, we knew Rian was coming back after the group stage and I think that second half against Madden that night was a huge turning point in our season,” said O’Neill.

“We were six down and while we didn’t win it, I felt that anyone that seen that game would know we were coming and then we got massive confidence of the Clan na Gael game and I think we sent out a statement that day and then we come through

three massive battles. There have been questions about this team that we can’t win battles over recent years, but I think we answered those over the last couple of weeks.

“Even the last day against Clann Eireann, to win a crazy game like that there, you could see what it meant to the whole town, I have never seen Cross people celebrate a semi-final like that. Even today, it is unbelievable and we will enjoy today and tomorrow and the next day and hopefully we will get back at it.

“We haven’t had a good record in Ulster over the last number of years and maybe that is something that we can look at next week because we need to play better than we did today.”

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: Miceal Murray, Ryan Martin, Caolan Dillon, Christopher Crowley, Odhran Caraher, Callum Cumiskey, Harry Cumiskey, Stephen Morris, Pearse Blessing, Aaron Haughey, Oisin O’Neill, Eugene McEntee, Cian McConville, Aaron O’Neill, Rian O’Neill. Subs used: Kealan McEntee for C Dillon (51), Paudie Studdard for E McEntee (53’), James Teelan for H Cumiskey (55’)

KILLEAVY: Shea Magill, Conor Magennis, Kyle Mallon, Callum O’Hare, Lee Rice, Gareth Murphy, Cathair McKinney, Euan Boyd, Cathal Boylan, Conor O’Neill, Kealan McDonnell, Ciaron O’Hanlon, Fergal Boylan, Ronan McGuinness, Aaron

McGuinness.

Subs used: Caolan McConville for E Boyd (31’), Tiarnan Brown for Ronan McGuinness (39’), (40’), Niall McGuinness for K McDonnell (45’), Jamie Crossgrove for L Rice (51’).

Crossmaglen scorers: Oisin O’Neill (0-06, 1tp, 0-2f), Pearse Blessing (1-03, 1tp), Cian McConville (0-03, 0-1f), Aaron O’Neill (0-02, 0-1f), Keelan McEntee (0-02), Harry Cumiskey (0-01), Odhran Caraher (0-01), James Teelan (0-01).

Killeavy scorers: Ciaron O’Hanlon (0-03, 1tp), Shea Magill (0-04, 2tpf), Fergal Boylan (0-04, 2tp), Callum O’Hare (0-02, 1tp), Gareth Murphy (0-01), Conor O’Neill (0-01), Aaron Magennis (0-01), Cathal Boylan (0-01).