Donnelly Group Armagh Senior Football Championship semi-final: St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna 1-15 Crossmaglen Rangers 0-17
Crossmaglen’s quest for a 20th title in the last 21 years was shattered deep into injury time as a sensational Mal Mackin fisted goal gave Cullyhanna an historic victory at the Athletic Grounds last night.
The victors showed tremendous passion throughout, keeping their shoulder to the wheel even at stages when the game was not going their way.
They started in determined fashion yet retreated to the dressing room at half-time 0-8 to 0-12 in arrears.
The game was characterised by some excellent interplay, pace and movement. At times in the opening period, the champions were forced to dig deep to deal with the fired-up challenge from their neighbours.
The clinching score may have came right at the death, but over the hour the quality of point-taking was straight from the top drawer.
The pace of the game was furious with Cross compiling a succession of scores approaching half-time to take a scarcely deserved
four-point advantage.
Cross, who played the final quarter with 14 men, following the dismissal of Garvan Carragher appeared to have survived, ahead by two as this exhilarating battle entered its third minute of injurytime.
With practically the last throw of the dice St Pat’s were awarded a 40 metres free which Aidan Nugent, who finished on 0-10 dropped short and was mis-cleared for a ’45 by Paul Hearty. Nugent again landed the ball in the Cross goalmouth and this time his captain Mal Mackin rose highest to fist a goal sending the large contingents Cullyhanna support absolutely wild with delight.
Excitement had ran high but despite the stern nature of the struggle, it was decided in a fine sporting spirit.
St Pat’s scored from their first three attacks, Nugent nailing two of them and he soon had a chance to give them a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but took a wrong option with a free.
By the 13th minute Cross had replied with scores from Aaron Kernan and two classic shots from Oisin O’ Neill leaving it 0-4 apiece.
Another Nugent free edged St Pat’s back in front only for O’ Neill’s third helping to square things up for a second time.
Points were traded by Martin Aherne and Nugent before Cross began winning most of the breaks around the middle reeling off 5 unanswered scores courtesy of Aaron Kernan (3), Tony Kernan and Kyle Carragher leaving them four up at the break.
On the restart scores were swopped by Aherne and Jason Duffy and O’ Neill and Shea Hoey and ten minutes into the second period two more Nugent frees had it down to a 2 point game.
Cross went down a man midway through the half which Cullyhanna quickly took advantage of with scores from the unerring Nugent and substitute Paudie Mc Creesh pulling them level.
The stage was set for a pulsating final quarter and an extraordinary score from Aaron Kernan returned the defending champions to the lead. With six minutes left they still held that slender lead after points had been exchanged by Nugent, a superb effort from play and Paudie Stuttard.
Close on normal time young Rian O’ Neill who had earlier helped Cross to back-to-back minor titles, was through on goal only to see his rasper turned over the bar by keeper James Carragher.
In these closing stages, Rangers making light of the being a many short created several chances to sew the game up all to no avail.
In the final minute of the three minutes of extra time allocated St Pat’s who were really up for this one were rewarded with a last gasp victory and now meet Maghery in the final on October 16.
A brilliant game the outstanding features being speed, dash, close tackling and some supreme scores. Th excitement and enthusiasm that prevailed towards the end defied description
SCORERS
St Patrick’s, Cullyhanna: A Nugent (0-10, 0-8 frees), M Mackin (1-0), J Duffy (0-2), S Hoey, P Mc Creesh, E Casey (0-1) each.
Crossmaglen Rangers: A Kernan (0-5, 0-4 frees), O O’Neill (0-4), T Kernan (0-3 frees), M Aherne (0-2), P Stuttard, K Carragher, R O’Neill (0-1) each.
