BEGGAN SCORES WINNER

MAITIU MONAGHAN
COMMENTARY

It’s very easy to forget the whole “love of the club” or “this means more” narrative in the middle of the inter county season. 2023 started with controversy when Shane Walsh’s Kilmacud team controversially beat Glen in the All-Ireland Club Final. In the weeks that followed, there was talk of replay’s and sending the cup up the road to Derry in a taxi. When the inter county season began, we got swept away with the drama of it all. It’s just over five months since Monaghan’s All Ireland semi-final heartbreak against Dublin.

The heartbreak from that day has faded, and after an amazing County Championship, fans can get their much-needed GAA fix watching the Ulster Club Championship. Last weekend’s quarterfinals lived up to their expectations. On Saturday evening, Crossmaglen’s horrendous form in the Ulster Championship continued. Sporting a full forward line of Jamie Clarke, Rian O’Neill, and Cian McConville, they failed to score in the second half against Tyrone Champions Trillick. To be fair, in poor conditions, the game finished 9 points to 4. However, Cross pride themselves on carrying the baton for swift attacking football.

Last year, Ballybay caught them on the hop, but this year’s quarter-final exit, exposes a weakness in the Armagh Club Championship that allows Crossmaglen to win playing this brand of football. Make no mistake, Trillick were full value for their win. It was seven years since a Tyrone club had won a game in the Ulster Club Championship. A myriad of factors has led to this, but Trillick are an…