Cumiskey: Crossmaglen took the Mayo approach

By Shaun Casey

WITH the breeze at their backs for the first 30 minutes, Crossmaglen made used full use of it in Sunday’s remarkable 29-point playoff victory over Clan na Gael. They racked up 2-16 by half time, with 0-14 of it coming from two-point efforts, as they advanced to the final eight of the Armagh SFC.

Speaking straight after the game, Cross captain Callum Cumiskey referred to Andy Moran’s Mayo in the All-Ireland final, who targeted scores from outside the arc in their famous triumph over Kerry.

The Rangers were rampant at the weekend. Off the back of two consecutive group stages defeats against Dromintee and Madden, a full-strength Crossmaglen team came out swinging, and it was Clans who paid the price.

Chris Crowley, Pearse Blessing, Oisin O’Neill, Rian O’Neill and Cian McConville all raised orange flags before the break, while McConville and Aaron O’Neill helped themselves to a brace of goals each by full time.

“We definitely knew coming down the road that Clan na Gael were going to test us,” reflected skipper Cumiskey.

“Whenever we knew we were going to be playing with the wind (having lost the toss), we figured that we needed to put up a big score before half time.

“We probably didn’t expect to go in so far ahead but looking at the inter-county scene, we saw how Mayo went about the All-Ireland final, it was shoot on sight, and if you’re lucky enough, a good few of them will go over the bar.”

The O’Neill brothers, Oisin and Rian, along with Cumiskey himself (who missed the final group game with concussion) were all back in Shane Lennon’s starting line-up last Sunday at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.

“We had a few boys that had injuries, but we got minutes into the legs. We have a two-week break so that’ll help bolster the ranks. The boys that came on, they’ve definitely put their name in for a starting position the next day out.

“When championship season comes around, everyone seems to clear up with injuries,” Cumiskey laughed. “We haven’t had a squad or a panel as big all year.

“We had 33 training the other night which is great for in-house games and there’s competition for places. The younger boys are definitely putting the shoulder to the wheel, and everyone is looking for minutes the next day out.”

Crossmaglen will take on South Armagh rivals Culloville in the championship quarter-finals, with that game taking place in two weeks’ time, back at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds.