Caolan Finnegan of Crossmaglen Rangers shoots to score his side's first goal despite the attention of Odhran Doyle of Granemore during the Armagh County Senior Club Football Championship Final match between Crossmaglen Rangers and Granemore at Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
Armagh SFC Final
Crossmaglen Rangers 1-19 Granemore 0-10
By Steve Malone at the Athletic Grounds
Crossmaglen Rangers are Armagh Senior Club Champions for the 46th time after they brushed aside the challenge of Granemore who were chasing their first ever senior club title.
Rangers impressed throughout and while they were never going to reach the dizzy heights of which they dismantled Maghery in the semi-finals, they displayed enough class and aggression to suggest they are peaking at the right time.
Rangers take on Monaghan champions Ballybay in the Ulster club Championship on Saturday, November 5, back in the Athletic Grounds and Stephen Kernan’s Rangers will take some stopping.
Man of the Match Cian McConville (0-08) was sensational, while Rian O’Neill, who played much of the game at midfield impressed throughout. Jamie Clarke dazzled at times, Aaron Kernan and James Morgan were excellent while the young guns of Tony O’Callaghan, Thomas Duffy, Dara O’Callaghan and goal-scorer Caolan Finnegan really stood up.
Rangers led 1-09 to 0-04 at half-time, with Caolan Finnegan scoring a stunning goal on 20 minutes.
He had received stiches to his head only moments earlier when the quick thinking Rian O’Neill passed to Finnegan and from 35-metres out he stunned everyone in the Ground by blasting into the net.
Up to that point Granemore had cut through the Cross defence on occasions but only had two points from Cathal O’Hare and a Marty Carr free to show for their efforts. O’Hare and Carr tagged on further points but Cross had one hand on the Gerry Fegan Cup as McConville, son of All-Ireland winner and current assistant manager Jim, O’Neill, Paul Hughes and Finnegan tagged on scores.
Granemore enjoyed a purple patch in the early stages of the third quarter as Jason O’Neill (two frees), O’Hare and Ryan Raffety tapped over points. But Rangers weathered the mini-storm and replied with four points of their own, from Dara O’Callaghan, Ronan Fitzpatrick and a few beauties from Cian McConville and cousin Rian O’Neill.
There was no way back for Granemore, but players like Ryan Rafferty, Jason O’Neill, Kieran Doyle, Ross Finn, Cathal O’Hare and Karl McQuaid impressed.
Crossmaglen are back playing they same style they made their brand when they were challenging for provincial and national honours. County men Rian O’Neill, Cian McConville, James Morgan coming back into the squad has improved the team and Jamie Clarke, gives them an attacking edge, that they missed in the last two finals they lost.
Rangers want to prove you can win games and silverware playing attacking football and so far, it has work. Ballybay will be a bigger test and then Down champions Kilcoo await the winners.
Crossmaglen: Miceal Murray, Tony O’Callaghan, Caolan Dillon, Thomas Duffy, Aaron Kernan, James Morgan, Paul Hughes (0-01), Stephen Morris, Rian O’Neill (0-04, 1f), Caolan Finnegan (1-01), Callum Cumiskey (0-01 mark) Dara O’Callaghan (0-01), Cian McConville (0-08,0-4f), Jamie Clarke, Ronan Fitzpatrick (0-02).
Subs used: Daniel Cumiskey for C Finnegan – blood sub (12-17’), Chris Crowley (0-01) for T O’Callaghan (ht’), Alan Farrelly for Dillon (39’), Orin McKeown for Thomas Duffy (53’), Seanie McConville for J Clarke (53’), Aidan Rushe for A Kernan (59’).
Granemore: Kevin Kelly, Cathal O’Hare (0-03), Ross Finn, Padraig Hollywood, Michael King, Karl McQuaid, Kieran Doyle, Darren Carr, Brendan Boylan, Louis Hughes (0-01), Jason O’Neill (0-2,2f), Odhran Doyle, Peter Carr, Marty Carr (0-02, 2f), Ryan Rafferty (0-1).
Subs used: Tony McClelland (0-01) for P Carr (ht’), E O’Neill for M Carr (ht’), Conrad Keenan for P Hollywood (25’), Darren Rafferty for L Hughes (55’), Padraig Doyle for M King (58’).
Referee: Shane Murphy (Collegeland).
