CROSSMAGLEN’S LATEST victory in the Ulster football championship underlines the south Armagh club’s status as incomparably the most successful in modern times. The victory over Down champions Burren gave Crossmaglen a ninth provincial title in 16 years.
Those statistics put the Ulster and All-Ireland champions far beyond what any other club has achieved apart from Nemo Rangers in Cork and Antrim’s Dunloy, the most successful club in the Ulster hurling championship, which isn’t as widely contested.
What sets Crossmaglen apart is the period of time during which they have accumulated their titles.
Nemo top the All-Ireland roll of honour with seven titles, just two ahead of Cross and Kilkenny’s Ballyhale Shamrocks, who lead the hurling lists with five. But the Cork club’s first All-Ireland came in 1973 whereas Ballyhale’s first was 30 years ago.
In 15 seasons Crossmaglen have won five All-Irelands, easily the best strike rate of any club. In terms of provincial success, the Armagh champions’ nine Ulster titles places them second, again to Nemo, who have 15 but spread over 39 years.
Ironically the clubs who can better Crossmaglen’s strike rate during the history of the provincial championships were unable to convert that success onto the All-Ireland stage. Clann na nGael in Roscommon top the Connacht roll of honour with seven, including a remarkable six-in-a-row from 1984-89. Unfortunately the club lost four All-Ireland finals between 1987 and 1990.
In Leinster Carlow’s Óg won five provincial titles in seven seasons but lost the two All-Ireland finals they reached in 1993 and ’96. The province’s most successful club is Portlaoise with seven titles and the possibility of an eighth should they defeat Dublin’s St Brigid’s in Sunday’s semi-final and then overcome the winners of Athy and Garrycastle.
