Hi °C | Lo °C All-Ireland Club champions Crossmaglen Rangers go into next Sunday's Armagh Senior championship final against Pearse Og as favourites to lift their 12th title on the trot - but harbouring a grievance over a lack of activity!
Since the start of June, the Rangers have played just three Armagh All-County League games and the club regard this as being far from satisfactory.
Secretary Gerard Rush, while happy that the Rangers are still in the frame to extend their dominance of the championship scene even further, is seriously perturbed by what he describes as "severe disruptions" to their League programme.
"In terms of our championship campaign everything has gone well but that only embraces a few games. We were given a League programme that was mapped out in advance - as it is for all clubs - yet we have only played three fixtures since the start of June for a variety of reasons," declared Rush.
The fact that several teams intimated at late notice that they would not be fulfilling their fixtures and that others sought postponements for a variety of reasons has left Rangers officials less than impressed.
" Admittedly, we ourselves had to seek a postponement of one fixture in particular because of a death in our club but that was unavoidable. However, we would be concerned that a number of teams did not fulfil their fixtures for what can only be described as tenuous reasons," said Rush.
Crossmaglen had played Whitecross and Culloville prior to meeting Armagh Harps in just their third League game last Sunday.
"That's hardly an encouraging diet of football for our players. In last Sunday's game we used some of our fringe players in view of the fact that next Sunday's championship final is looming but by and large we would like a sustained programme of fixtures that would help not only to bring on players but to sustain a high level of interest," said Rush.
Rangers, who have held the Armagh Championship title since 1995 and are the reigning AIB Ulster and All-Ireland Club champions will again be armed with their traditional mantle of favourites for next Sunday's contest.
But secretary Rush, one of the driving forces behind the Rangers rise to eminence, predicts that Pearse Og will offer formidable resistance to his team.
"They have a number of county players in their side and they have been there or thereabouts in terms of the championship title in recent years. They will be well motivated and I would expect that they will enjoy big support," added Rush.
Sunday's game will take place at Oliver Plunkett Park, Crossmaglen (3.30pm) and is expected to attract a huge crowd given the Rangers current status and the Pearse Og desire to knock them off their pedestal.
