BEFORE the Ulster Championship matches at the weekend, I got a text from Ruaidhri Currie, a good Rossa man. “Going to have a flutter. Loughmacrory or Kilcoo? Newbridge or Madden?” I texted back, “Kilcoo and Newbridge. Winning the county championship was the other two’s wildest dreams fulfilled. Impossible for them to adjust their sights to […]
By Shaun Casey THE BOX-IT Athletic Grounds has been a home from home for Madden this season and joint-manager Adrian O’Donnell hopes that the familiar surroundings of the Armagh venue will help his side this weekend as they begin their Ulster campaign. The Raparees, who won their first ever SFC title just two weeks ago, […]
By Michael McMullan NEWBRIDGE began their homework on Madden on Saturday ahead of this weekend’s Ulster Senior Championship semi-final showdown with the Armagh champions. A second-half goal from Callum McGrogan was the key score as the ‘Bridge saw off Dunloy at Owenbeg on Saturday night. “I’d say they were there watching us so we’ll have to […]
By Shaun Casey THERE could be no debate or controversy surrounding the choice for the man of the match in the Armagh SFC final on Sunday. Madden star Darragh McMullen accepted the award after putting in a phenomenal performance. His early two-pointer helped set the tone for the Raparees, but it was his work away […]
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 […]
By Shaun Casey TONY Donnelly was the first Cullyhanna player to ever register a score in an Armagh SFC final. That was back in 2013 when the St Patrick’s men joined a long list of clubs that tasted decider defeat at the hands of Crossmaglen. 12 years on, Donnelly is preparing to line out in […]
By Shaun Casey BLOOD is thicker than water and the brotherly bonds inside the Madden changing room have helped develop a close-knit connection. When things get tough, the players know they can rely on the man next to them to get them out of a sticky situation, says Ciaran Rafferty. Madden burst out of the traps […]
By Shaun Casey MADDEN joint-manager Adrian O’Donnell was delighted with how his side came through a titanic tussle with Maghery last weekend to win by the minimum of margins and qualify for the semi-finals of the Armagh Senior Championship. The Raparees needed to kick six of the last seven scores to survive an upset and Maghery […]
By Shaun Casey THE semi-final hurdle has been the stumbling block for Madden in the last two championship campaigns, and they’re hoping to go at least one step further this season, says captain Tony O’Hagan. The Raparees lost out to Crossmaglen in 2023 before falling to Clan na Gael in 2024 but remain one of […]
Armagh suffered their fair share of disappointments but ended up with the All-Ireland. Niall Grimley opens up to Shaun Casey. AFTER another heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the Ulster final, Armagh were at a low ebb. Niall Grimley didn’t really know where he stood. He hadn’t featured for Kieran McGeeney’s men since the second round […]
