Kilmacud will look to Vaughan to beat odds

Crossmaglen Rangers v Kilmacud Crokes: IF THIS was almost any other year Kilmacud Crokes would probably be thinking their name must be on the Andy Merrigan Cup. They produced several narrow escapes in the Dublin championship that even Houdini would have been mystified by and defied logic in the way they cheated defeat by Rhode in the Leinster final.

Last month they also endured an anxious start against Corofin before confidently securing their passage into this afternoon’s final. Fate, it would seem, is further on their side given it’s 14 years since they captured their first All-Ireland title – the right amount of time that was needed for the youngsters inspired by that win to come through the ranks and play their part this time around.

Unfortunately for them, the team standing in their way don’t have much time for the fate of anyone else. Crossmaglen have always believed in making their own destiny and they won’t need reminding of what that has brought them. Consider this: the year after Kilmacud won their first All-Ireland title in 1995, Crossmaglen won back the Armagh county title – their first in 10 years – and have won it back every year since. That’s 13 years and still counting.

During that same period they have won six Ulster football titles and four All-Ireland titles – and this afternoon start as 8 to 15 favourites to make it All-Ireland number five. They’re some scary statistics, but the scariest of all?

Since winning that Armagh title in 1996, Crossmaglen haven’t lost a final. In other words, when they beat Ballinderry to claim the Ulster title it was their 26th consecutive victory in either a county, provincial or All-Ireland final.

Of course, the flipside of that is they have to lose one at some point. It’s just this afternoon doesn’t look like being that point. Put this Crossmaglen team through a CAT scan and still it doesn’t show up any weakness. They’re hard, they’re experienced, they’re confident – and presumably they’re hungry. That’s a dangerous combination.

The Kernan brothers are now the youthful energy of the team, but Francie Bellow is still an ominous presence at centre back, while John McEntee and Oisín McConville are still turning back the clock. Their strength, frankly, is their strength – which can be either brutal or just crushing, depending on what’s required.

No one, however, is suggesting Kilmacud don’t have a chance. That they survived the hectic schedule of games before the Christmas break is something they’ve turned into an advantage. They’ve been able to plan more thoroughly for each game, and so it proved against Corofin – at least once their defence settled down.

Cian O’Sullivan returns from suspension to bolster that defence, with the O’Carrolls, Ross and Rory, still manning the full-back line, as Kevin Nolan drops back. Liam Óg Ó hEinneacháin also returns from injury to bolster the half-forward line, alongside Brian Kavanagh and Adrian Morrissey.

But there is no denying where Kilmacud will be looking for inspiration. Mark Vaughan hit 1-2 in the final 10 minutes against Corofin, just after they drew level, and his performance this afternoon is pivotal. At his best, Vaughan is a joy to watch, but more significantly, a killer forward, and if they are to undo Crossmaglen then he’s going to need to start scoring early, and keep it up.

That’s not saying there aren’t some equally capable forwards around him. Brian Kavanagh has been improving with every game since decamping from Longford, and Mark Davoren and Pat Burke won’t mind the open spaces of Croke Park either.

Darren Magee has found a keen midfield partner in Niall Corkery, and if it is close in the final 10 or 15 minutes, Jonny Magee is not a bad man to have on the sideline.

After beating Corofin, manager Paddy Carr hinted perhaps Kilmacud still had one big performance in them, a full 60 minutes of the sort of the football they obviously promise. If they do manage to produce that here then Crossmaglen will definitely have a contest on their hands – unlike their semi-final against Drom-Broadford.

The stage is at least set for one of the best club football showdowns of recent years. If you believe in fate then Kilmacud can escape the odds; if you believe in destiny then Crossmaglen have it all wrapped up.

KILMACUD CROKES (Dublin): D Nestor; Ross O’Carroll, Rory O’Carroll, K Nolan; B McGrath, P Griffin, C O’Sullivan; D Magee, N Corkery; L Og O hEinneachain, B Kavanagh, A Morrissey; M Vaughan, M Davoren, P Burke.

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS (Armagh): P Hearty; B McKeown, P Kernan, P McKeown; A Kernan, F Bellew, J Donaldson; T McEntee, D McKenna; M McEntee, J McEntee, J Clarke; S Kernan, J Murtagh, O McConville.