Happiness is… winning your first county title.
It is a special moment, one that doesn’t come around too often.
Particularly if you live in the fiefdom of Crossmaglen Rangers. Before this summer the almighty Cross’ had won every Armagh county football title bar one since 1996. That is 19 titles in 20 years, that is near total domination, that is scorched earth policy in the Orchard County.
This year something crazy happened. Crossmaglen were beaten in the semi-final stage, by Cullyhanna, 1-15 to 0-17.
Having deposed the king, Cullyhanna would have fancied themselves to take their first ever county title on Sunday in the Athletic Grounds. Unfortunately for them they met a Maghery team bolstered by county stars like James Lavery and Aidan Forker.
Poor old Cullyhanna, took out Crossmaglen only to clear the way for another first-time winner. To see the moment Maghery clinched a dramatic final on a 1-13 to 0-13 scoreline, skip to three minutes in the video below.
Wonderful scenes.
The Armagh county final was one of just TWENTY county finals scheduled to be played today, with the Cavan and Tyrone replays both postponed due to the weather we still had 18 matches played.
Antrim SFC final
Cargin 1-10 St Gall’s 0-6
Armagh SFC final
Maghery 1-13 Cullyhanna 0-12
Cork SFC final
Carbery Rangers 1-15 Ballincollig 1-12
Derry SFC final
Slaughtneil 2-11 Loup 0-6
Donegal SFC final
Glenswilly 1-10 Kilcar 0-12
Kerry SFC final
Dr Crokes 2-16 Kenmare District 1-12
Kildare SFC final
Sarsfields 2-13 Moorefield 0-15
Laois SFC final
Stradbally 2-10 Portlaoise 1-12
Longford SFC final
Mullinalaghta 1-8 Abbeylara 0-8
Offaly SFC final
Rhode 1-14 Ferbane 0-9
Carlow SHC final
St Mullins 2-16 Mount Leinster Rangers 0-13
Clare SHC final
Ballyea 1-11 Clonlara 1-11
Galway SHC final
St Thomas 1-11 Gort 0-10
London SHC final
Robert Emmetts 2-13 St Gabriels 1-12
Roscommon SHC final
Four Roads 0-17 Oran 3-8
Tipperary SHC final
Thurles Sarsfields 0-27 Kiladangan 1-15
Wexford SHC final
Oulart-The Ballagh 0-17 Cloughbawn 1-11
Wicklow SHC final
Bray Emmets 1-9 Carnew Emmets 0-12
