Crossmaglen Rangers legend Aaron Kernan hangs up his boots

Aaron KernanAaron Kernan
Aaron Kernan
The wing back retires having won 18 county titles, eight Ulster titles, and three All-Irelands.

Crossmaglen legend Aaron Kernan has confirmed that his career is over, following the Rangers’ exit from the Ulster Championship on Saturday evening.

Kernan, who turns 40 in December, spoke to the media following his side’s 0-9 to 0-4 defeat against Trillick, and when asked whether or not he will be back next season in the black in amber, he said that his mind was already made up that this would be his final year.

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“No. Unfortunately, that's my mind made up, completely,” said a teary-eyed Kernan.“To be fair, I'm almost 40, and I have given everything. You'd love to change it, but you can't. The hunger is not there.

“You have to think about family, and that's it.”

Kernan enjoyed an illustrious career playing at wing back for the Rangers, winning an astounding 18 county titles, eight Ulster titles and three All-Ireland medals along the way.

The 2018 Armagh Senior Club Player of the Year continued to be a key cog in the team right up until his final days with Cross, and after his most recent county title win – against Clan na Gael three weeks ago – he still refused to take any success for granted.

“It’s very special; it always is,” he said.“You can never downplay the importance and the significance this has for the club, everyone who supports us, and the next generation. I’m thrilled; waking up this morning I was thinking ‘This is the day that you have trained all year for’.”

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Saturday night was a disappointing one for Crossmaglen, as they exited the Ulster Championship after they were held scoreless in the second half in a five-point defeat to Tyrone champions Trillick.

When reflecting on the game, Kernan believed that if Cross were simply able to get even one point at any stage in the second half, it would have been enough to turn the tide of momentum, which was clearly going against them.

“One point. All it needed was one point,” he said, following the full-time whistle in Healy Park.

“And we had a few half chances and balls went wide, but they weren’t nearly as clear cut as what we had created in the first half; they were nearly snapshots. But yeah, just one point is all it takes to get you back up and it gives you a bit of breather, gives you confidence, but the longer the half went on the more it was draining for us, and the more we were losing our shape, and the more energy it was giving them.

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“To be fair to them [Trillick], they picked off some lovely scores and they were very good in possession and they didn’t give the ball away, which then didn’t give us the opportunity to go back up the field and get a score.

“It is so hard to explain, and it is very hard to take, but it is what it is.”

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