By Shaun Casey

ROSS McQuillan was a nailed-on starter for Armagh throughout the season, and he has produced the goods for Cullyhanna in the championship so far says boss Stephen Reel, who also hailed the impact of Jason Duffy.

The pair were to the fore last weekend as the St Patrick’s club qualified for the last four of the Armagh Senior Championship for the first time since 2018, where they will face off against arch-rivals Crossmaglen.

Duffy kicked 1-2 and was fantastic throughout the quarter-final, while McQuillan’s extra time goal, a lobbed effort from all of 50 yards, put the game to bed and Cullyhanna ended up running out seven-point winners.

The pair were part of Armagh’s historic journey in 2024 when the Orchard County captured the Sam Maguire Cup and with the emergence of the new playing rules this year, McQuillan really stood out for Kieran McGeeney’s side.

When asked about McQuillan’s form in the orange and white, Reel laughed and demonstrated his best Roy Keane impression. “That’s his job,” said Reel, who guided Cullyhanna to the Intermediate All-Ireland title in 2023.

“He was lucky with the goal; it was probably more of a mistake from the goalie than it was Ross! But it was a good goal, and we’ll give him the credit for it, he obviously saw the goalie off the line, and he executed it, and it worked out well for him.

“He’s playing well and he’s trying to manage injuries. In fairness he’s had a difficult time between training and rehabbing but we’re being smart with him and we’re managing him.

“He has a difficult schedule with county football and club football all year round.

“Jason has been immense for us too and we had a lot of boys that have stepped up and are playing well for us. The boys are playing well and so is Aidan (Nugent), he’s had a great season for us and long may it continue.”