Crossmaglen celebrate All-Ireland glory

Stephen Kernan and Paul Hearty address their fans

IT WOULD be unfair to say that Crossmaglen milked their All-Ireland win last Saturday evening, but they certainly took their time and enjoyed it.

In truth, the Crossmaglen players, management and their supporters knew long before referee Marty Duffy’s final whistle blew that the Andy Merrigan Cup would be spending another spring and summer in South Armagh. In fact, they probably knew even before the half-time blast.

Stephen Kernan was rightly afforded the chance to lift the cup as the captain of the All-Ireland champions, before the process of taking the blue riband prize of club football home got underway.

They stopped off at the Old Coach Inn in Castleblayney for food. The proprietor, Dermot Watters, may hail from neighbours Culloville, but the welcome was a warm one, just as it had been when they stopped off on their way back from beating Glenties in the 2010 Ulster final at Breffni Park.

Bellies filled, it was time to head homeward bound to Crossmaglen and the Rangers hall, where they made their entrance with their good friend Andy just after 10pm.

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