Crossmaglen Rangers have appointed an outside manager for the first time in their history, as Louth's Shane Lennon steps into the role.
Cross are one of the most powerful GAA clubs in the country, with a rich history that is filled with as much pain, as it is success.
Located on the border between the north and south, the Armagh club had to go through more than most just to play football during The Troubles in Ulster.
Army barricades were built right next to the football pitch, and on one occasion, a helicopter actually landed on the field during a match.
These difficult times have made the community strong, and on the back of that, they went on to dominate not only the county championship, but the provincial championship as well.
Between 1997 and 2012, the amber and black side won an astonishing six All-Ireland club medals, and went on a ridiculous run that saw them lift 13 Armagh senior championships in a row as well.
With so much history and triumph beaming from the area, it is fair to say that they are a very traditional club in the sense that they have always had club men managing their teams.
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Crossmaglen appoint former Louth player Shane Lennon as manager. Close association with Oisín McConville having managed DKIT together. Gerry Seavers coach. First outside manager, I believe. pic.twitter.com/Y6mRpyU3Ng
— Niall McCoy (@McCoyNiall) December 11, 2024
However, Anthony Cunningham, a Crossmaglen man through and through, departed after this season's disappointing semi-final defeat to Clan na Gael.
There was speculation that Monaghan's Vinny Corey would take the role after he stepped away from the county job last summer.
However that proved to be false, and after a long search, the Orchard club have finally appointed a successor, and named Lennon as their first outside manager.
The former louth star was also the county's Games Development officer, and will be assisted by former Dublin minor Gerry Seaver, who worked with Longford minors this year.
There is some connection to Crossmaglen though, as Lennon had worked closely with Oisin McConville, managing the Dundalk Institute of Technology.
McConville is arguably the club's greatest ever player, and also managed them to county and provincial success himself, so he certainly isn't a bad person to put in a good word for you.
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