Hitching-post small. You can tell as you circle it like a running track, from newsagent to chipper to hotel and all over again, just to kill some time. But Crossmaglen is tiny too. Gossip-mill tiny. You get a sense when at a bar the previous evening someone describes the person you're here to meet as a "complete and utter f**king wanker" as if they were safe in the knowledge it wasn't going any further. But you really have no idea what this place is like. To know that you have to be someone like Oisin McConville. Oh, and for the record, he's not. . .

And it's not just Cross'. Many of the rumours have come from the surrounding areas. When McConville missed a match earlier in the year, due to a schedule incorporating extra fitness work, an Armagh journalist at the match decided to let the press box in on some local knowledge. "Ah sure it's no surprise he's not here.

Sure isn't he drying out?" Yeah, there have been wild moments, and for a guy who is now the joint top all-time scorer in Ulster football, there is undoubtedly an unusual childish and unpredictable side. But the fact you're waiting for him to come home from a job he's been holding down for close to a year is a start. It's something reliable, foundations to build on.

"There have been a lot of jobs but to tell you the truth, I was working with a cousin of mine, a fella doing claims handling for road traffic accidents and the simple fact of the matter was that it didn't pay enough, you know?

And I went on to sales and sold phones for a fella in Monaghan who I've a huge amount of respect for. I think outside my holidays, in 2002, I missed 40 days. Literally, I'd say 30 of those were due to football, like going away on Friday and he was totally understanding. At that time I couldn't have had a better boss. He understood where I was coming from and what was number one and if he had said at any stage you can't get this weekend off or you can't go away, you're needed for work, I would have jacked it because at the end of the day it's something that fits about football, it's not the other way about.

"But it is true, I have found it difficult to settle. There's a few things I feel I want to go ahead and have a go at but that's going to involve going to college or something like that cause I never went before. Maybe it's a case of trying to replace the buzz of football and finding it hard to find work interesting. And for me it's not only the game, it's the lead-up to it. And it's things gradually coming to the boil."

For now, days involve a construction site in Dublin. It's the first time he's tried it and it can be hard going, but nothing could have been as bad as his previous effort at making a living.

"There's been tough stuff going on. I had a pub in Cavan, and contrary to rumours, the pub just didn't suit me and I had a lease on it and it was very amicable when I gave it up. The two fellas who owned the pub were very understanding and I just couldn't give the time to it. And it was a pretty successful business. I'm out of the pub since 12 August last year and I'm quite happy to be out of it because really it didn't suit me and the lifestyle didn't suit me. It's probably for someone who's retired from football but at the same time it's not something that I'd go into again. It's too time consuming. It was too much. But I'm not bitter towards football getting in the way of it because in this house football always came first. I think there are a load of people who spend their life looking for what they want job-wise and maybe I'm one of them. But I've got something that nobody else will have. I can pull on a county jersey week-in, week-out and there's nothing I wanted to do more growing up so as far as I'm concerned I've achieved all I used to dream about and hopefully there is more to come."

Some dreams are tainted. Splashed with hate and hurt and jealousy, thrown from the outside, visible from the inside. Ask Oisin McConville the highlight of his life. He'll tell you it was the All Ireland in 2002 of course. Ask Oisin McConville his lowlight and he'll tell you what he began to hear soon after his childhood ambition had been scaled. It shook him. He had to tell his own mother what was being said about the place. He had to tell her not to listen, to try and ignore it. The whole lot knocked his football and everything else back for the following years.

"Yeah, there was the whole thing about being involved with Tony and John [McEntee]'s sister and supposedly beating her up. None of them [rumours] are true and it's so far from the mark but what do you do in situations like that? Do you come out and have a big public thing and say 'I'm not guilty of these things' because that obviously makes you look worse? Is it a small town thing? It didn't start in this town anyway. It hurt though because you feel you are out there sometimes and you're playing for supporters and stuff and that hurts a lot.

If it's a jealousy thing, it's sad. But I don't think there is anything that could warrant people saying stuff about you like that and I know I'm not the only one that stuff has been said about but I've bore the brunt of most of it. I'm not sure why. And the McEntees and McConvilles are like two families rolled into one. We are that close. Our mothers do the sandwiches after matches and me, John and Tony have been playing together forever. It's disappointing but that's when you know who your real friends are.

That's something I can take out of it.

But it affected me. It affected my football in 2003. A little in 2004. It took time to get it out of my head."

So has it all been worth it?

"There were times when I was saying to myself 'Why am I doing this?'

But at the end of the day if I was to give up football in the morning because of something like that, it would be me that would be losing out, not anybody else, because I love the game so much. And I couldn't deny myself that pleasure. But people will say what they want to say and there have been plenty of rumours over the years about me but I can still walk down the street and hold my head high.

"Like there was rumours that I drank the pub in Cavan. Drink wasn't really an issue for me down there. It was never the case I was drinking when I shouldn't have been. I mean there was drink involved through the year, but no more so than anyone else who takes a drink on the panel. But I suppose there were times when on a night out things do get out of hand but it's not something I have a problem with. Nobody else made me aware of them having a problem with it either.

Geezer [Kieran McGeeney] was captain and I'm sure if he had a problem last year he would have come to me.

But he didn't. As far as I'm concerned there's nothing on my conscience.

"Besides, anytime I was down [in the pub] I was working but people don't see that because when I'm not there they can make up what they want. But with some things, that's fair enough and I understand when you are in the public eye that you get these sorts of things. But it is unfortunate because it's hurtful towards my family. But it's brought us a lot closer too. As I said, at that stage you find out exactly who your friends are and a lot of the boys who I play football with have been more than supportive. The rest, well I can tell them where to go but it's always good to find out who your good friends are. And I've found out that better than anyone.

"But it can be hard to get away from at times, even on the pitch.

Because even playing football, people have used rumours against me, and I might discuss who and when some day, but for now I'll leave it. But some things have been said on a football pitch and it's not just me, it's happened to teammates of mine. I'd probably be more angry about what they'd say to them rather than what they would say to me. But either way it's difficult to keep your cool, especially when you are at your most hyped.

People say there's no excuse for lashing out and that, but maybe there is.

But luckily enough I've managed to keep my temper. You've got to have a strong mind and regardless of what you've been through, every intercounty footballer would have to have a strong mind or he won't last."

How well they know in Armagh.

On the field there's been the heartbreak. There's been just one All Ireland despite the shower of Ulsters.

There's all the missed chances.

There's this one last chance. Yet each January they have all stood together together on a soggy pitch, lined up for another McKenna Cup, another long year, another season of expectation.

And each year they've got on with it, despite how the previous season may have ended. "It's been hard to keep it going. Especially after last year going out to Tyrone. We played so well, and the intensity. . . for days after that I didn't want to know about football. I didn't care about football. If you asked me then, I would have told you this year was our last chance at another All Ireland as a team because you can see some people retiring after it.

So I guess it's the same now even though things are more positive. And that drives you on. But then again, I'm lucky: hunger is something I've never really had a problem with. Losing doesn't sit that well with me and that overcomes what can be said about us as a group of players and what can be said between us.

"Like, I remember one time, I think myself and Kieran McGeeney, something happened on the training field and there might have been a bit of pushing and shoving, but we get on and we shook hands after training.

That's it and it's forgotten and it's somebody else the next night. But the next thing was we didn't get on, that's how silly stuff can happen. But some of what you hear is true. I've read different reports about Joe [Kernan] having too much faith in the Cross' boys and giving them too many chances. And there has been that view from other players in the panel, but what can you do? You've just got to get on with it and nine times out of 10, he's been proven right. But hearing that is a little weird because we in Cross' feel we've contributed as much to the county set-up as anyone and we've done well and the county has benefited massively from that."

You haven't done things the easy way Oisin? "We haven't and to be honest, neither have I. But where I am now is a great place.

Of course it would have been great if certain things had never happened, but they did and so what, get on with it. As I say, I've got a great family, some good friends who have all helped me through it." He looks down the road and stares at the British army base leaning over the Crossmaglen Rangers pitch like a balcony. "We owe them boys a lot of credit for our success, you know. They brought us together." He laughs before paling. "But you're right, I haven't done things the easy way."

That makes him more Armagh than any of them.

DONEGAL HAVE HAD THEIR CHANCES, ARMAGH WILL TAKE THEIRS TODAY ULSTER SFC FINAL ARMAGH v DONEGAL Croke Park, 2.15 Referee M Monahan (Kildare) Live, RTE Two, 1.45; BBC2, 1.55 Put Armagh in the Warwickshire under-14 girls B championship and it would probably take them a few replays before they won it out. But the thing is, they would win it out. Put them in Ulster and they tend to do the same.

They've been doing it for a while now and going for a threein-a-row in Ulster. . . well, it has been 45 years since Down last managed that and this is a more competitive Ulster. But today, it's not so much the craving for that Ulster title that will drive them on. We've said it before, but of all days it's now relevant.

This is the quickest way to an All Ireland and that is all this side wants.

Paddy McKeever's absence won't affect them all that much.

Firstly, they have quality in Martin O'Rourke to come in but more blatantly because there's enough of a threat in the forward line as it is. Take Oisin McConville. He will become the greatest marksman in the history of Ulster football in a few hours, needing just a single score to surpass Peter Canavan's record. Take Steven McDonnell who still owes us a big game, and likes the big stage. Take Ronan Clarke. Take Malachy Mackin. Take John McEntee.

The worry? Armagh are up against a side that would run the legs off a greyhound.

Donegal have been the fresh breeze through a cabinet of old air up north this season. But only now do we finally learn what we need to know about them. They can beat the good but can they beat the great?

They can do Ballybofey but can they do the big smoke? And can they, of all teams, manage to beat Armagh? For each of the last four seasons, they've had their chance and failed. On some occasions miserably, like the 2003 Ulster final. The score that day? 3-15 to 0-11. We hear a collective gulp from the northwest.

Don't worry folks, it won't be that bad this time, although the loss of Michael Doherty is a big blow. His pace could have tormented Enda McNulty, and although Adrian Sweeney is a fine replacement to have waiting in the wings, his style of play will suit the Armagh corner-back. Feel the pressure growing Messrs Hegarty and To y e ( right)? To their advantage, the vast expanses of Croke Park will suit them and Donegal but they are an infant team, susceptible to emotion.

Armagh? They are a machine, who don't know what emotion is. On such occasions, this matters.

How much the earlier rounds have taken from their tank, we'll see later in this year's championship, but not today.

Truth be told, Joe Kernan's side would probably prefer to lose it rather than draw it, but they won't do either.

Verdict Armagh by three

ARMAGH P Hearty; A Mallon, F Bellew, E McNulty; A Kernan, C McKeever, P Duffy; K McGeeney, P McGrane (c); M O'Rourke, J McEntee, M Mackin; S McDonnell, R Clarke, O McConville

DONEGAL P Durcan; K Lacey, P Campbell, N McGee; E McGee, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; N Gallagher, B Boyle; C Toye (c), M Hegarty, C Bonner; R Kavanagh, C Dunne, A Sweeney