Tullysaran have been knocking on the Intermediate Championship door for a few years now and remain one of the top contenders.
They failed to push for promotion from Division 2A but have reached the last four of the championship in the last two campaigns.
Surprise packages Carrickcruppen ended their run last year while it was St Paul’s who stopped them in 2020.
The loss of defenders Brian Kelly and Turlough Lardner have been huge this season, but they still have enough talent in their team.
Attacking threat
In Eddie Mallon, Mark McKeever and Gavin Conlon, they can call upon three of the best forwards at this grade.
Eoghan Daly is full of running at midfield while James Madden and James Conlon offer an attacking threat from the half back line.
Madden could be handed a man-marking job for John Devine’s men and pick up Crossmaglen’s Paul McKeown.
The former All-Ireland winning captain was superb in guiding the Rangers to the Junior final last season.
He pulled the strings from the centre half forward spot and is well fit to take a score when the opportunity arises.
Ryan Duffy was another outstanding member of the panel last year and he manned the defence from full back.
He’ll likely pick up Tullysaran dangerman Eddie Mallon with captain Liam Blessing sweeping in front.
Colin O’Connor will provide an outlet in the half forward line for Cross and he knows where the posts are as well.
The sides last clashed in the group stages of the 2018 Intermediate Championship and Tullysaran were huge winners.
13-points was the difference when the final whistle sounded as the O’Connell’s club won comfortably 2-19 to 2-6.
Tullysaran will be heavy favourites to get through this one and continue their journey for Intermediate Championship gold.
But Crossmaglen won’t go down without a fight. They offer stiff competition and will be confident that they can cause an upset.
