The rise of the Raparees

TWENTY seven years have flown by in the blink of an eye for Danny Donnelly. Back in 1998, he and his Madden teammates made history by guiding the club to their first-ever Armagh Senior Championship final appearance.

They’re back in another decider, having defeated Clann Éireann in the recent semi-final, and have their eyes set on becoming county champions for the very first time as they lock horns with Cullyhanna.

Donnelly was the captain, the man that took the toss back then. The one hoping to get his hands on the Gerry Fagan Cup. Standing in their way was none other than Crossmaglen, who would go on and dominate the domestic scene in Armagh over the next two decades.

While the men in red and black believed in miracles, the Rangers had other ideas. Cross ran out convincing winners on the day, thanks to two converted Oisín McConville penalties, and ended their season on the steps of the Hogan Stand as All-Ireland champions.

It wouldn’t do the Madden tale justice to say the story started and finished on that particular day. The rise of the Raparees during the ‘90s deserves far more recognition than just one result.

Five years previously, Madden were competing in the junior championship. They’d lost out in the final to An Port Mór in 1991 but in ’93 they were back for another shot and overcame Ballymacnab to claim the title for the first time since 1953.

But they weren’t happy with their lot. They wanted to push on and had the team to do so. By the end of the 1994 season, Madden had added a third-ever intermediate crown to their trophy cabinet, following the successes of 1964 and 1970.

“Many would say that 27 years is a long time since our first ever senior final appearance, but believe me it seems like a blink of an eye,” recalls Donnelly all these years later. “While ‘98 was the pinnacle of most of our playing careers, the real work began years before that.

“In 1992, Sean Woods from Clontibret became our manager along with Anthony Mallon and Benny McCusker. Sean was a no-nonsense manager who got the best out of all the players, going on to win the junior in 1993 and the intermediate in 1994.

“It took another four years before we got past the first round of the senior championship – ’98 was an unbelievable year as we were still playing Division Three football, and we were drawn against Keady in the first round in Abbey Park.

“As the odds were stacked against us, winning that day felt like winning the championship outright, and the same applied to Carrickcruppen in the quarter-final and Cullyhanna in the semi-final. The build up to the final was incredible, you felt like you were walking on air.”

Madden had an ace in the pack when they added Paul Grimley to their management team. The Pearse Óg clubman would of course go on to help Armagh win their first All-Ireland title in 2002 as Joe Kernan’s right-hand man.

But before he caught the attention of the nation, Grimley built up an impressive club CV and gained instant success wherever he worked. He wasn’t the only name of note who helped Madden that season and plenty of other big personalities offered a helping hand.

“We had Paul Grimley come into the club in the years leading up to 1998 and he also really inspired the whole team with his brilliant training sessions, not to mention the many visits to Kilbroney Forest Park.

“To have these four men: Sean, Anthony, Paul and Benny alongside Martha Smith, our team physio, behind us was a huge help. That added to the whole build-up to the final. We stayed in Maynooth one weekend and had a training session with Sean Boylan.

“We went to Rostrevor to have a session with Pete McGrath and even had Tony Scullion come to Madden for another session. Just like now, the excitement around the whole community was unreal, with flags, bunting and signs everywhere, it was all red and black.”

While Crossmaglen were much too strong on the day, Donnelly still looks back with fond memories. “As team captain, I felt really privileged to lead this group of players into the club’s first-ever senior final.

“We were playing against a remarkable Crossmaglen team who had previously won the All-Ireland title in 1997, but we still believed that anything was possible and that we had earned the right to be there.

“The whole match from the toss of the coin with John McEntee to walking behind the band passed by very quickly. We were beaten and Cross went on to win the All-Ireland title again in 1999, although we still would laugh about being the second-best team in Ireland that year!”

Fast-forward to the class of ’25 and Donnelly has a different perspective on the build up to the final this time around. Another Donnelly will be lining out this Sunday, carrying with him the family name.

Danny’s youngest son Cahal, a former county minor, has broken through to the first team this year and has held on to his starting jersey. Just like his dad all those years ago, Cahal will battle around the engine room of midfield.

A glance at Madden’s programme will rekindle thoughts of ’98. Most of the same names are still on the team sheet. Donnelly, Vallely, Smith, Grimley. The faces have changed, but the surnames delivering performances on the field are much the same.

Donnelly and Grimley were the midfield partnership in ’98 and it’s the same surnames this weekend. “The final is particularly special for me and my family in that my youngest son, Cahal, has been lining out in midfield,” Donnelly continued.

“That’s the same position I played in the 1998 final, along with my midfield partner Barry ‘Bugsy’ Grimley. For Cahal to now be playing alongside his footballing icon Niall Grimley is incredible.

“All in all, there are five players from the 1998 team that have sons playing in this year’s final and this will be a very special occasion for them as well. I really can’t wait for the final and both teams will believe they are good enough to win.”

Madden and Cullyhanna are both chasing their maiden championship victories. Cullyhanna have previously been there in 2013 and 2016, but they couldn’t get over the line against Crossmaglen and Maghery respectively.

There will surely be a nervous tension surrounding the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds on Sunday evening and whoever deals with the big occasion may stand the best chance of winning. It’s a 5050 game, but 27 years on, Donnelly is hoping for a different outcome this time.

“This year is an absolutely fantastic and historic occasion for Madden and the whole community. Very few people would have predicted that these two teams would be competing in this year’s final.

“Today’s team, under the guidance of Mark Harte and Adrian O’Donnell, are where they belong. We have been knocking at the door the last few years and now we believe the team is good enough to go on and create its own history.

“I’m not into doing score predictions, but I’m wishing with all my heart that Tony O’Hagan, our team captain, will be lifting the Gerry Fagan Cup this Sunday.”