The final four teams left in the Senior Championship will battle it our for their place in the showpiece this weekend.
Clann Eireann v Madden – Fri 10 Oct – 7.30pm – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
Both these teams came into the competition with their eyes set on making history. Clann Eireann are aiming to secure back-to-back title for the first time in the clubs existence while Madden want to win the SFC for the first time ever.
The reigning champions look set to be without All-Ireland winner Barry McCambridge for the rest of the season. McCambridge has been one of the main men for both Armagh and Clann Eireann in the last few years.
Dan McCarthy is also sidelined having missed their quarter-final victory over Killeavy three weeks ago. Conor Turbitt was on fire that evening and kicked 0-12 of their 0-17 and if Madden are to have a hope, they’ll have to reduce his scoring return.
The Raparees struggled over Maghery the last day out, but did enough to edge through by the minimum of margins. Niall Grimley has been in terrific form and he will be the one they look to on Friday evening.
Joe Sheridan has also been scoring heavily recent, while Darragh McMullen and Conor Grimley will look to carry the can as well. Madden have lost the last two semi-finals and are looking to reach the decider for the first time since 1998.
Crossmaglen v Cullyhanna – Sat 11 Oct – 6pm – BOX-IT Athletic Grounds
Just one-point separated these sides in the quarter-finals of the championship this time last year. It was Crossmaglen who came out on top, surviving a second half revival from Stephen Reel’s men.
Cullyhanna needed extra time the last day out to see off St Peter’s and reach the semis for the first time since 2018. Back then, it was the Rangers that halted their chances of winning a first ever championship as well.
Pearse Casey remains a huge loss for Cullyhanna and their inspiration captain is a miss around the middle. They will look to the likes of Aidan Nugent, Jason Duffy and Ross McQuillan to really carry the fight.
Crossmaglen seem to be getting all their men back at exactly the right time. Oisin O’Neill started in their quarter-final victory over Carrickcruppen while Callum Cumiskey and Odhran Kieran saw game time as well.
Their forward line offers a number of real scoring threats that Cullyhanna could struggle to tie down. In the O’Neill’s, Oisin, Rian and Aaron, along with Cian McConville and Ronan Fitzpatrick, they are all capable of racking up big scores.