Paul O'Hagan, Clan na Gael, and Aaron Kernan, Crossmaglen Rangers, in action during the 2006 Armagh SFC Final.
By Cian O’Connell
In Clan na Gael the planning and plotting started a good while ago.
Sunday’s Armagh SFC Final represents Clan na Gael’s first appearance in a decider since 2006. Twelve years previously, in 1994, was the last time the Lurgan outfit were senior champions in the county so this is a particularly exciting time.
Crossmaglen Rangers remain a most respected footballing force, but Clan na Gael are thrilled to be competing strongly once more.
Demanding days were endured, but the willingness to invest time and energy in the underage ranks matters deeply according to club secretary Paul O’Hagan, who featured as a player in the 1994, 1996, and 2006 finals for Clan na Gael.
“A lot of hard work has been done in the last 10 years, but maybe four or five years ago, particularly, we started to see underage success,” O’Hagan explains.
“We won the Féile at U14, we got to an U16 Ulster Final. That really has been the catalyst for the trophy hunting since. We've gone on to win two minors, we've had other success across the age groups.”
It is a hectic spell for everyone involved in Clan na Gael. “There is a bit of a snowball effect at the minute,” he adds.
“This senior final is our fifth final in the last four or five weeks. We won the minor, we won the U16 Division Two, then two of our ladies underage teams won finals, and our adult ladies were beaten in the intermediate final. It is a good place to be with so much activity at the business end of the season.”
Momentum has been generated by Ronan McMahon’s charges, who feature Stefan Campbell. “It is brilliant, the seniors being in the final is just the icing on the cake,” O’Hagan says.
Stefan Campbell remains a key performer for Armagh and Clan na Gael. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
“All of the underage ones, they get down to the club, they look up to the seniors, that is where they want to be in the future. To see that whole buzz leading into the final is great. Francis Street and Davitt Park is coloured in blue and white bunting, flags are outside the homes.
“So many people are chipping in, helping out for the last few weeks, making sure no stone is left unturned for the seniors. There has been a really good buy in across all levels of the club.”
That so many emerging footballers in the club have featured for Armagh in the underage ranks offers a source of optimism. “A few years ago we had seven on the Armagh minor squad,” O’Hagan says.
“We've had the captains of the Armagh minors in 2022 and 2020, so there has been a steady increase. The majority of those players have come through and are part of the senior squad.”
Crossmaglen’s skill and standards have been an example to many others. It was a tough stint for Clan na Gael according to O’Hagan. “It wasn't by luck that they stayed there or it wasn't by luck that we fell away,” he says.
“Cross kept doing the hard work. We fell down to Intermediate for a number of years and our underage teams were sitting in Division Two or Three competitions.
“It was hard to take where we were, never mind who was winning. It is great to be just competing at the higher level, again.”
O’Hagan has transitioned to the administration side of Clan na Gael. “It is nowhere near as much fun as the playing side, I still coach a lot too, I coach as much as the administration, the fun is on the pitch,” he laughs.
At every level, it has been quite an adventure in 2023.
