The traditional Paddy's Day ritual in the Kernan household is far-removed from yours or mine…

St Patrick's Day is a bit different for Aaron Kernan and his siblings compared to the rest of us. While most Irish people clumsily pin an untidy clasp of earth onto the lapel of their jacket and head to the nearest centre of population to observe a mundane convoy of tractors and diggers imitate snails, masquerading as a parade, then drop in to the nearest watering hole to 'drown the shamrock', Aaron is usually polishing his boots getting ready to run out onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park.

Crossmaglen Rangers seem to be involved on All-Ireland club final day almost every year at this stage, but Armagh star Kernan is taking nothing for granted. He realises that these are exceptional times for Cross' and that it could all end tomorrow … literally.

Growing up in the Kernan household, March 17th has always been about football (as has pretty much every other day, if we're to be perfectly honest!). Father, Joe, was manager of the side that famously captured the Andy Merrigan Cup in 1997 and again in '99 and 2000. When they added further All-Ireland titles in 2007 and 2011, Aaron was a key player on the all-conquering side, delivering a series of trademark assured performances at wing back. And when the Black & Amber brigade leaves the border town again tomorrow morning to bid for their sixth All-Ireland club final success, brothers Aaron, Tony and Paul will be part of the travelling party while team captain and centre forward Stephen misses out through suspension, having played a huge role in the side's progression to the decider.

Thus, while Paddy's Day means parades, shamrocks, snakes and alcohol to most of us, it's all about football for the Kernan lads.

"I've never been at a parade in my life, as far as I can remember," Aaron shrugs as he prepares to lock horns with Westmeath and Leinster champions Garrycastle in the biggest club match of the year. "Starting off, I was still in my childhood when Cross' won their first All-Ireland in 1997. I was twelve at the time. It was a massive thing to be heading off to Croke Park for an All-Ireland final - and it still is.

"In many respects, this year has been the most enjoyable of all. The buzz in town is better than I ever remember it being before and it's great to be part of it. Believe me, I've never seen the same amount of colour and excitement in town and the interest from the local people has been unreal this time. The support has given all the players a great boost. It's an indication of how much this All-Ireland final means to the local community and it shows us as footballers how lucky we are to be the ones who get to go up to Croke Park and represent our community on All-Ireland final day and we don't want to let anybody down or have any regrets."

One would expect that some sort of law of diminishing returns has to be kicking in by now, that Crossmaglen would be going through the motions, that they might take things for granted and get caught on the hop. To the contrary, however, they seem to be even hungrier than ever and that's one of the truly astounding things about this exceptional, unique GAA club.

"Playing in an All-Ireland final is something we don't take lightly," Aaron confirms. "We have prepared extremely well for this game and we hope to go up to Croke Park and do ourselves proud."

In these difficult times for the economy, does the football provide supporters with an escape from the harsh realities of everyday life? "It's a great source of enjoyment for everybody, and not just in Crossmaglen. People from all over Armagh and Ulster have been getting behind us. We held a breakfast morning fundraiser recently and over 1,100 people turned up to have their breakfast served to them by the Cross' players. That goes to show the support we have and the interest there is in the team. There seems to be a serious buzz in the county and people are looking forward to another outing in Croke Park."

As with everything, great and all as it is, the reality is that this run will not last forever. Inevitably, the day will arrive when Crossmaglen will be just another club team. The players are only too aware of this. "We actually talked about that last weekend," says Aaron. "We said that this could be the last All-Ireland final we play in. There are no guarantees what will happen in football or in life, so we are treating this as our last opportunity to win an All-Ireland club title and we are looking forward to another massive day.

"We want to go up and perform and we want to be successful. As far as we are concerned, we have one big day ahead of us and that's what all our focus will be on."

Does everything else in the players' lives take a backseat during the drive for All-Ireland success? "Everybody has work and family and friends and lives to live but the week of the All-Ireland final you are eating, sleeping and drinking it. It's on your mind all the time. When you doze off, you are wondering about Croke Park and the All-Ireland final and that's the same for any team that gets to an All-Ireland. It's a big week with a lot riding on it and you give it your full attention."

So, what will happen on Saturday morning? What's the pre-match routine? "We'll meet at the clubrooms and we'll have a two-minute chat in the dressing-room and then we'll hit the road. We'll stop off at the Carrickdale for a bite to eat and then we'll be up and hopefully ready for action."

Though Garrycastle will be going all out to dash his dreams tomorrow afternoon / evening, Aaron Kernan has nothing but respect for his opponents: "It's a massive day for them as well and I can remember what it felt like in Crossmaglen in 1997.

"That was our first day in Croke Park, too, and we won the All-Ireland, and they have the same opportunity we had back then. There are no guarantees - this could be their last chance or it could be massive for them - the beginning of a long period of success. They are as entitled to success as anybody.

"We'll prepare as best we can, focus on the challenge at hand and treat this game as a massive opportunity. You don't want to have any regrets or take your eye off the ball."

Aaron is bidding for his third All-Ireland club medal. He joined the Crossmaglen panel in 2003 and was on the successful sides of 2007 and 2011. He has six provincial club medals. "We lost the All-Ireland semi-final in '05, the semi-final in '08 and the final in '09," he notes.

"We've had a massive turnover from the 2007 panel, with 17 new players coming in since then, so we are starting with a whole new bunch and it's been a great two years working under Tony [McEntee] and Gareth [O'Neill].

"When my father was manager in '97, '99 and 2000, we were close to the lads and it gave us a great insight into how special it was to be involved in something like this and we were very keen to have days like this ourselves." Tweet

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