Crossmaglen - Gaelic Games

Gaelic Games

Crossmaglen in recent years has become known for its Gaelic football team, Crossmaglen Rangers, who won the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007 (after a replay), 2011 and again in 2012. The manager and several players of Rangers went on to win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship with the Armagh GAA in 2002 and got to the final in 2003 but lost 0-12 0-9 to neighbours Tyrone. One of Crossmaglen's most notable players is Oísin McConville, who is also Ulster's Top scoring player ever. The county team were also in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final in 1953, local players Gene Morgan and Frank Kernan were on the team but they were defeated by Kerry. Armagh also made it to the 1977 All-Ireland final, but were soundly beaten by Dublin.

There is also an ongoing argument between Crossmaglen Rangers G.A.C, the Morgan Family of Crossmaglen and the British Army over the positioning of the army base which was placed on the Rangers pitch and on the back garden of the Morgan Family home on Cardinal Ó Fiaich Square. This was remedied beginning in April, 1999 (http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GAA:+Army+begin+retreat+from+Crossmaglen.(Sport)-a060388002)

On 17 March 2012, they met Westmeath and Leinster champions Garrycastle at Croke Park where the two sides fought out a draw (Crossmaglen 0-15 to Garrycastle 1-12). At the replay on 31 March at Brefni Park Crossmaglen ran out convincing 2-19 to 1-7 winners to again win the All-Ireland club championship.

Crossmaglen Rangers hold the national record of 39 County Titles, including 13 in a row. They also hold the record of 9 Ulster club titles.