A poignantly fitting winner in the ‘Battle Of Cross’
The GAA often finds itself attracted to flak like flies are to cow sh***. Much of it self inflicted, and more often than not, deserved. Credit where it’s due, though, the National Leagues have often been their redemption and, you, suspect, will only become even more so as time goes by.
For it’s in the so-called secondary competition that the best, fairest and most entertaining football resides. Back in the day, though, actual reward therefrom was only partial. In that, if you got promoted well and good, but there was nothing material by way of reward. As in, trophy or medals.
Thankfully, at some point since the turn of the century, some forward thinking visionary – there are a few in the GAA – came up with the idea of having finals and trophies for each division across all codes.
Thus transpired a festival of football in Croke Park over the weekend just past. With divisions Four and Three showcasing Saturday and the top two tiers taking top billing on Sunday.
Now, former players becoming managers is nothing new. Not even outside of their county. Having two people from the same county opposing as managers is no ground breaker either. See Liam Hayes managing Carlow against Meath, Paddy Christie possibly pitting Longford against Dublin or, most aptly at the moment, Kevin McStay steering Roscommon against his native Mayo.
Hurling has a plethora of such occurrances. However, whether a scenario similar to what unfolded with Saturday’s Div. 4 Final between Sligo and Wicklow has ever cropped up previously is doubtful.
That is to say, two members of the same CLUB going up against each other, managing two county teams. Yet such was exact situation in the weekend’s curtain raiser. The following may be the most unoriginal title ever given to anything, but, the Div. 4 decider between Sligo and Wicklow literally was a Battle Of Crossmaglen as the former, under the direction of Tony McEntee took on Oisin McConville’s Garden County troops.
Anyone who has been perusing my output for long enough will know of a fondness in this seat for the famed Armagh village having spent time up there on a few separate occasions during my younger days. More than that, mind you, one couldn’t but be moved by the manner in which Cross’ Rangers not only survived The Troubles but prospered during that time. Despite endless interference and harassment. Including but not limited to the military aircraft of occupying forces invading their playing pitches.
There’s even another layer to my admiration for the storied Armagh club. Namely, the story of Oisin McConville himself. His status as a supreme footballer was well and truly assured during his playing career, but his standing as an inspirational person, I suspect, only properly came to light with the publication of his brutally honest and moving autobiography The Gambler. Said book was very much a case of doing exactly what it said on the cover – detailing Oisin’s horrific struggles with a gambling addiction.
All of which makes it very understandable how lads would have no problem going to war for him. And early on last Saturday it was looking like that was going to be enough to carry the day. With scores from goalkeeper Mark Jackson, Kevin Quinn, Mark Kenny and JP Hurley giving the blue and gold a handy lead early on. Very slowly but surely, though, McEntee’s men worked their way back into the contest, with the experienced Keelan Cawley, Pat O’Connor and team captain Niall Murphy in particular driving the revival.
Despite the latter hitting the net before half time, Sligo still trailed by 1-03 to 0-08 at that stage. However, for whatever reason, it was the Yeats County who very much had the better of the second half. Mostly because the excellent Sean Carribine came thundering into the game. Whether he is related to the great Sligo performer of the past, Mark Brehony, I don’t know, but the resemblance – if not in appearance – in style of play and level of ability is uncanny. He amply demonstrated as such when being part of the flowing move which culminated in Paul Kilcoyne’s goal which ultimately decided the outcome.
Though perhaps that had been settled before the ball had even been thrown in, with the game being played on the first anniversary of the tragic passing of gifted Sligo footballer Red Og Murphy. Sometimes it is indeed the decision or work of a higher power with regard to how these things turn out. Naturally, there will be disappointment in the Garden County and having come up short but the concept of League Finals is definitely justified by allowing counties to perform on our game’s greatest stage. Something they certainly build on going forward.
FOGRA: Though Meath were not in action during football finals weekend, apart from David Gough doing linesman during one of the matches, there was other Royal County representation on the Hallowed Turf. That being because former Seneschalstown GFC player and manager Joe Cowley is an integral part of Oisin’s backroom team in Wicklow. Hopefully it won’t be long until he’s back plying his trade on his own turf as the former centre back has plenty to bring to the table.
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