Aaron Kernan has pointed out that Crossmaglen Rangers have no problem with their players representing Armagh.
With the likes of Kernan and Jamie Clarke conspicuous in their absence from the Armagh set-up, Cross' has been used as a scapegoat in some quarters for the Orchard County's current woes but the former argues that every player can do as he pleases and that there's no anti-county agenda within the border club.
"A line commonly used by many in the media that frustrates me when describing club success is that 'it's only club football, county football is a huge step up'. How do they know? Well, I know because I've proudly represented both my club and county for 10 years. I can assure those in doubt that the coaching we receive at Cross and the level of detail we prepare at is on a par or above anything I've had at county level. It has to have been or our success would not have been sustainable," Kernan writes in The Irish News.
"A very important point being missed is that giving that sustained commitment required to be successful with club and county is not a personal issue with managers. It's more to do with overlapping seasons that some players do not want to be on a wheel of competitive football consistently. I know I fully embraced it, but others didn't want football to control their lives and who could blame them?
"At present, Cross are trying to blend a new squad, with a good mixture of youth and experience. Some have had their time at county level and there is also a new generation of skilful, ambitious kids coming through who deserve their shot at county level.
"This year, our club has a spread of two senior, four U21s and three minor representatives on county panels. Of course, there are others who are capable of playing at county level but, for their own reasons, have chosen not too.
"The lure of retaining Sam Maguire wasn't even enough to persuade Rory O'Carroll and Jack McCaffrey to postpone their plans for 2016, yet their reasons are readily accepted without suspicion that there has been a fallout.
"I would always encourage young players to test themselves at county level and embrace the challenge of competing against players from across the country. No-one can win Sam Maguire with clubs. But All-Irelands can be achieved for both club and county so let's stop this 'us and them' mentality because it serves neither club nor county any good."
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