Armagh SFC final: Cross cruise to another title

October 21, 2013

Crossmaglen celebrate another Armagh SFC title. INPHO
Crossmaglen Rangers 0-17
St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna 0-8

It was a familiar story at the Athletic Grounds where Crossmaglen defeated first-time finalists Cullyhanna by 0-17 to 0-8 to win their fourth Armagh SFC title on the trot and their 17th in 18 years.

The victory confirmed Paul Hearty's status as Crossmaglen's most decorated player. The long-serving goalkeeper has now won 17th county senior championship medals to go with his 10 Ulster and six All-Ireland titles.

Joe Kernan's charges were never headed in a game that had a predictable feel to it from a long way out. After Callum Cumiskey and Tony Donnelly had traded early points, Cross' took control and opened up a 0-7 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes thanks to unanswered scores from Kyle Carragher, Kyle Brennan and Comiskey.

Robbie Tasker pulled back a couple of points to leave St. Patrick's trailing by 0-3 to 0-8 at the break, and further scores from Tasker and Ciaran McKeever on the resumption left just three in it. But that was as close as Jody Gormley's underdogs came as the Rangers streaked clear again with a flurry of points from Tony Kernan, Aaron Cunningham, Paul Og Grant, Carragher and Stephen Kernan.

Next up for the mighty Cross' is an Ulster club SFC quarter-final against Down champions Kilcoo on November 3.

Crossmaglen Rangers - P Hearty; P Hughes, P McKeown, M McNamee (0-1); A Kernan, G Carragher, D O'Callaghan; J Hanratty, T Kernan (0-5f); A Cunningham (0-1), S Kernan, M Aherne; K Brennan (0-1), K Carragher (0-4), C Cumiskey (0-3). Subs: D McKenna (0-1) for McNamee, P Grant (0-1) for Brennan, L Boyce for Cunningham.

St. Patrick's, Cullyhanna - C O'Neill; K McCooey, G McCooey, M Murray; S Reel, S Connell, C Hoey; C McKeever (0-2), B McConville; L O'Hare, R Tasker (0-5f), E Casey; P Casey, M Mackin, T Donnelly (0-1). Subs: G Mackin for Donnelly, N McShane for K McCooey, P McKeever for Reel.

Referee - J Slevin.

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