The Cross  Square Hotel will sponsor the ball for our opening Senior league fixture against Killeavy. Many thanks to Gerard, Geraldine & staff for your sponsorship and ongoing support.

This week’s online notes have been sponsored by Nanny Hughes’s Pizzeria, The Square.

Thanks very much to Patrick and all the crew at Egg & Nanny Hughes’s Pizzeria for your sponsorship. If you would like to sponsor the online notes, please email [email protected] or telephone, 0876659126.

Following the community clean up we had our new  jersey launch with main sponsor, Hanratty Oils.

Thanks very much to Eugene Hanratty & family (Hanratty Oils) for attending and his ongoing support.

Thanks also to Naoise, Mary & Eilis (Shorts Sport’s & Cycles). All items ordered will be in stock, mid April. If anyone missed the sale of our club gear, we will have another sale in a couple of weeks or you can contact Shorts Sports directly; 02830861861 (ext 1).

Orthosol, Dundalk were also in the Rangers Hall on Saturday. Thanks very much to Mark and his team. Anyone who wishes to purchase a gum shield, PM Cross Rangers and we will pass on your details.

Burren V CrossSunday evening all roads led to Burren for our semi final clash against hosts, Burren
A low scoring first half, Mel Boyce scoring a hat-rick of points, one each for Miceal McCabe and Johnny McKeever. Burren got their opening score when the game was minutes old and as the half drew to a close, they scored two more points to leave the score at the break;
Burren 0-3 Cross 0-5
Burren scored two points as the second half commenced and with the second half only five minutes old, both sides were all square.
This was to be short lived, we went on a scoring spree, scoring  1-4 (Aaron, Mel, Michal & Daniel Cumiskey the point scorers) in the next fifteen minutes, the  goal the result of a great pass from Captain Aaron  to Mel Boyce who kicked the ball into  back of the oppositions net. Burren responded scoring two points in quick succession before high drama, an own goal give us our second goal of the match and put us in a commanding position with ten to go. Some great saves from Tiranan McConville kept our lead intact. We continued on the scoring spree, three unanswered points , Micheal McCabe, Daniel Cumiskey & Stephen Finnegan. Burren slotted over their last score of the match, a point and as the minutes ticked down on the clock, Kyle, Rían and Miceal added a point each to the scoreboard.

On Saturday morning , we held our community clean up.

Well done to the 245 volunteers, you were all brilliant and it was fantastic to see so many turn out to clean up the community and show how proud we are of our local area. Many thanks to Newry, Mourne, Down District Council council for providing all the equipment, thanks to the residents for their co-operation, thanks to Leon and Margaret for providing the refreshments after the clean-up and finally huge thanks to chief clean up co-ordinator Aaron Kernan.

U14 Féile Cup QF

A dry mild Saturday afternoon left conditions ideal for our Feile Cup U14 QF clash against Lugan side, Clann Éireann. Ollie Hearty was the man in charge of proceedings.
It was the visiting side who started the strongest and this was to be the theme of the first half, they had built up a substantial lead before we got our opening score, a point. As the game entered the final seconds of the first half, Aaron O’Neill scored a goal to leave the score at the midway point;
Cross 1-01 Clann Éireann 2-08
Just after Ollie Hearty had thrown in the call to get the second half underway, it looked like Clann Éireann were going to continue the trend they had set in the first half, four points in quick succession and it looked like it would be the oppositions day but our boys had other ideas. Aaron O’Neill scored his second goal followed by a point to reduce the deficit. Both sides exchanged points before we scored our third goal, thanks to Caelan Duffy at the midway point of the second half.
Good goalkeeping from Eoin Murtagh kept the Lugan boys at bay. Caelan Duffy’s second goal and two points for us left just three between the sides before high drama ensued, we were awarded a penalty which Benny Duffy struck superbly to leave the game all square. A point each for both teams and as the minutes ticked down , it looked like it may end in a draw and no one was leaving this game early. A superb strike from Ryan Martin which sailed over the bar was to be the winning  score. Our boys showed fantastic grit, spirit and determination. What a come back! Well done to the entire squad and management. We are so proud of you all.

The boys will now play Clan an Gael.

We rounded off a super Saturday with a table quiz. It was a great night’s craic! Thank you to all the teams who participated. Unfortunately my team lost by a point! I would of liked a stewards enquiry but this was refused!

I can honestly say this was the hardest job I ever had to do as PRO, I presented the prizes to the winning team; Chairman Gene, Teresa, Amy, Oliver, Tommy & Matt. Enjoy the Easter eggs!

The winners of the raffle at half time were;

£50 Dev Oil Voucher; Gene Duffy

£50 Mc’s Grocery & Coffee Dock;  Eimear Hand

£50 McArdle Meats Voucher; Shane Murphy

Well done to our raffle winners.

The night could not have happened without one man, renowned quiz master, Gene McGinn. We send our sincere gratitude to Gene and his daughter, Catherine.  Thanks so much Gene for facilitating the quiz and for keeping us on our toes!

A special word of thanks also to your assistants, Gerard Murray, Mary Carberry & Ruáirí Shevlin who ensured everything ran smoothly.

The total raised on the night was £400 which will go towards field maintenance.

The official launch of Crossmaglen Darkness Into Light took place on Friday night. The club was represented at the launch and we encourage all members, sponsors, supporters and friends to take part in this amazing event on the 11th May. The walk is 5km long and all proceeds from the event go to Pieta House and PIPS Newry & Mourne.

Good luck to Conor Deery, Ronan Fitzpatrick and St Colman’s College, Newry who play St Mary’s, Knockbeg against in the Paul McGirr All Ireland Final which will be played in Abbotstown, Co. Dublin on Saturday.

Condolences

Crossmaglen Rangers GFC send their deepest sympathies to Patrick, Sean, Raymond, Bernard and Kieran McDonnell, grandchildren Josie & Dereck and the extended family circle on the recent sad passing of their Mother/ Grandmother Mary.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.

Crossmaglen Rangers GFC send their deepest sympathies to Aoibheann & Thomas Cassidy & the extended family circle on the recent sad passing of Aoibheann’s Mother, Bernadette.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.