In a sporting context at least, the phrase siege mentality has rarely been more befitting.
Thomas Niblock's fantastic documentary for the BBC on Crossmaglen Rangers was screened tonight. It followed the club throughout their 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
The club was famous long before they started cleaning up in Ulster due to the stationing of a British army garrison overlooking their pitch.
Crossmaglen Rangers have won eighteen Armagh championships since 1997 - essentially, every title except 2009. In the same period, they have won six All-Ireland titles and eleven Ulster club football titles.
On tonight's show, Oisin McConville summed up their credo.
It was good to stick the fingers up and say 'regardless of what you do, you can land your helicopters here, you can build your barracks on top of us, you can stop us, throw our clothes out on the street, throw our bags out, you can chase people going to training, you can try and intimidate us, but fuck you, we're going to win an All-Ireland anyway.
They show ranged over other more universal matters such as the imposition and breaking of drinking bans, and the desire of some players for to get away from the area.
Oisin McConville on the British army by dm_501dbc366483b
