Ulster football champions Crossmaglen Rangers of Armagh qualify for their first All-Ireland Club Final.
Crossmaglen in County Armagh has unfortunately made news headlines on many times during the Troubles. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) club Crossmaglen Rangers has had its own issues for the past twenty five years, as the biggest British Army base in Northern Ireland is located right on their goal line at Saint Oliver Plunkett Park.
Yesterday in Portlaoise the footballers of Crossmaglen Rangers qualified for their first All-Ireland Senior Club final by defeating reigning champions Laune Rangers from Killorglin by a single point. It is what the club has been striving for says Crossmaglen Rangers manager Joe Kernan,
For any club your aim is to qualify and be in Croke Park on Saint Patrick’s Day.
The last ten to fifteen years have been a struggle for the club’s development admits chairman Eddie Hughes, which makes their most recent success on the pitch all the sweeter,
This just puts the icing on the cake.
Celebrations in Crossmaglen were still underway this evening, but the real party is on hold until after what the supporters hope will be victory over Knockmore of Mayo in the final on Saint Patrick’s Day.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 24 February 1997. The reporter is Brendan Wright.
