By Cian O’Connell

“It has been a while, more than a decade, there has been ups and downs, but you'd take all of them downs for weeks like this,” Aidan Nugent says about the rewarding times playing for Cullyhanna.

Drama has never been far away. County senior finals have been sampled, relegations endured, but this week the proud Armagh club are preparing for an AIB All-Ireland Club IFC decider against Cill na Martra on Sunday.

Experiencing competitive club football outside Armagh is something Cullyhanna’s management and players have embraced. “When you're playing within the county, leading up to championship, you can maybe overanalyse, get too worked up about playing this way to stop that certain player or to counteract what they are going to do,” Nugent responds.

“Maybe you can take your eye off the ball, whereas after the county final you're in the unknown. You know a few players, obviously, but you're worrying about yourself, you're getting yourself right tactically and physically.

“You are hoping that will get you over the line, yes you'll do your bits of video and defenders will have man marking roles, but all in all you're worrying about yourself and getting yourself right.”

That approach has served Cullyhanna, who defeated a Johnny Doyle inspired Allenwood last Saturday, particularly well. The Armagh forward is used to dealing with important games, but acknowledges this matters deeply to Cullyhanna. “I think maybe when you're involved or in a set-up, you don't sit back to look at what is going on, you're just thinking about the next training session,” he says.

“When is the next gym session? Who are we playing next? What are they good at? Things like that, but when you look back the club is going to be emptying out on Sunday, buses are going to be heading to Croke Park to watch us, it is bigger than you think.”

Cullyhanna have accumulated plenty of experience in high stakes matches. “I think sometimes you can get worked up about these games, if you haven't been there,” Nugent explains.

“We can get talking to a few of the younger lads, get them realising, yes it is in Croke Park, yes it is a big day, but it is really about nailing our game plan and sticking to what we are good at, regardless of where the game is played or what is at stake? I think that will help.”

Off the pitch Nugent is busy too, expanding R8 Train in recent months. Initially the venture was about recovery rooms for athletes, but it has developed nicely recently. “We have a cafe next door and a gym upstairs,” Nugent says.

“We have it all in the one so we expanded a bit, that's the full-time gig at the minute.

“I always had the recovery and gym equipment on the side because I was teaching, but I gave up the teaching last year to give this a good rattle.

“The cafe is only open six months so you're still only finding your feet and getting out there. I can't complain, I'm enjoying it. There might be a few longer hours, but you can still select your own hours and that suits for football too.”

Adding new layers to the business has helped. “The main thing is you want footfall,” Nugent remarks. “So, if you're serving coffee, toasties, and soup you're giving people a reason to come here. It is raising awareness, you have the gym and the recovery room next door.

"You're just looking at that traffic, we are on the main street, we only moved here six months ago, we've already seen an increase in footfall, awareness, and following on social media.”

These are busy, but brilliant times for Nugent and Cullyhanna.