See tomorrow's Irish News for Joe McManus' full match report from the Athletic Grounds
Crossmaglen 0-12 Maghery 0-9
Crossmaglen managed enough to haul themselves over the line at the Athletic Grounds against Maghery on Saturday evening and reach their 19th final from the last two decades.
It was hugely disappointing fare with both teams finishing with 14 men. Maghery goalkeeper Johnny Montgomery and Rangers’ substitute Diarmuid McConville were red-carded late in the hour but much earlier both sides lost key players - Aaron Kernan to injury (18 mins) and Paul Forker, black carded eight minutes after the restart.
Cross led 0-5 to 0-2 at the break, both Maghery scores coming from Aidan Forker frees, 20 minutes apart. The champions hit the front with a Stephen Kernan point, a lead they never relinquished. However, their much revered attack without Jamie Clarke seldom sparkled, their starting full-forward line rendered scoreless.
Crossmaglen scorers: T Kernan (0-4, 0-3 frees), D McKenna (0-2), S Kernan (0-2), M McNamee (0-2, frees), P McKeown (0-1), R Kelly (0-1)
Maghery scorers: S Forker (0-5, 0-3 frees), A Forker (0-2 frees, S Forker (0-1), R Lappin (0-1)
