By Cóilín Duffy Gaelic football supporters across the country were kept on the edge of their seats on Sunday, with seven County Senior Club Football finals taking place, as Crossmaglen Rangers, Portlaoise, Kilmurray-Ilbrickane, Ballaghadereen and Cavan Gaels took silverware while replays will be required following draws in the Kildare and Carlow deciders. Crossmaglen Rangers earned pride of place on a day of entertaining action, with the Orchard County club registering their 13th Armagh SFC victory in succession thanks to a 0-13 to 0-8 victory over Pearse Óg at the newly renovated Athletic Grounds in Armagh city. With players such as Oisin McConville and Cathal Short taking part in all 13 deciders, the Rangers certainly weren't lacking experience and used this to good effect as they led by 0-6 to 0-5 at the interval. Armagh's lone All-Star on the 2008 selection Ronan Clarke done his utmost to keep Pearse Óg in touch, but his side were forced to battle hard following the loss of both Andy Mallon and Paul Duffy through injury during this game. The John Donaldson captained Rangers were inspirational in the second half as they held their opponents to just three points on the restart, as McConville and Aaron Kernan tagged on scores. It was a game in which Crossmaglen's leadership qualities oozed through with midfielder John McEntee picking up the Man of the Match award while his brother Tony and captain Donaldson also played pivotal roles. Crossmaglen's 37th Armagh title victory ensured they equalled the record set by Ballina Stephenites of 13-in-a-row successes. Over in Mayo there was no sign of the 2005 All-Ireland SFC Club champions in the decider, but history was created as Roscommon border side Ballaghadereen took home the Mulcair Cup for the first time since 1972 following a 0-13 to 1-6 victory over Charlestown. Ballaghadereen looked to have this title firmly in the bag by half-time when they led by 0-11 to 0-2, with Barry Regan scoring six of their points, as Charlestown could only manage two scores from freetaker Richard Herron. However this game livened up on the restart with Herron keeping his side in touch and when Paul Mulligan fired home a 49th minute goal following a long ball from Ireland International rules player Tom Parsons, the gap was cut to four points. Despite this rally neither side could manage a score for the remainder of the contest, and indeed the eventual winners failed to score for the final 26 minutes of this game, yet they had done enough work to ensure Gary Conway lifted silverware after an entertaining contest in Castlebar. In Cavan, Cavan Gaels appearing in their ninth consecutive decider never looked troubled at Kingspan Breffni Park against newcomers Denn as the Gaels registered a 0-15 to 0-7 victory. Boosted by the exploits of their Minor side who took honours earlier in the day, the Gaels were in inspirational form and despite playing against a strong breeze in the opening half led by five points at the interval. Seanie Johnston scored six points for the Gaels who now advance to an Ulster Club SFC quarter-final meeting with Antrim champions St. Gall's. There was plenty of action down for decision in Leinster with draws in both Carlow and Kildare, while Portlaoise emerged victorious in the Laois decider. The County town side dug deep in the second half at O'Moore Park, before romping to a 2-14 to 1-7 victory over a Timahoe side that were seeking a first Laois SFC success since 1969. Six Portlaoise players were on target as former All-Ireland Minor winning captain Peter McNulty registered 1-3 for the eventual winners. At St. Conleth's Park Celbridge will once again have to face Newbridge side Sarsfields on the October Bank Holiday Monday after the Kildare decider finished level at 0-7 apiece. The Barney Rock managed Celbridge got off to a perfect start and led by 0-4 to 0-0 after 27 minutes, with Tom Fitzgerald and Mark O'Sullivan among those on target. Indeed it took 16 minutes for either team to get off the mark when Fitzgerald registered the first score of the contest. However Sarsfields failed to lie down in the second half and dug deep to ensure their quest for a third title this decade, and Celbridge's search for an elusive title, continues. In Carlow a last gasp point from defender Alan Curran for Éire Óg ensured a replay will be required next Sunday after their 1-10 apiece draw with Palatine at Dr. Cullen Park. Palatine led by the minimum at the interval on a 0-6 to 0-5 score-line, but this game was far from clear-cut as Éire Óg assumed the lead once more on the restart thanks to a low kick from midfielder Sean Gannon which finished in the Palatine net. The dismissal of Éire Óg goalkeeper Eric Ryan by referee Pat Kehoe threatened to end his side's hopes of silverware, with Paul Reid minutes previously registering a Palatine goal. The writing looked on the wall, when defender David Kinsella gave Palatine a two-point lead with eight minutes remaining, however points from Christy Bolger and Curran secured a draw and a replay at Dr. Cullen Park next weekend. In Clare Odhran Doherty was among those in fine form for Kilmurray-Ilbrickane at Cusack Park in Ennis as they claimed a third SFC success this decade, and a first since 2004 following a 0-11 to 0-5 win over Liscannor. With seven minutes to go Kilmurray-Ilbrickane led by just two points but their experience showed through until the finish to register a comfortable six-point victory. Meanwhile All-Ireland Club Champions St. Vincent's are out of contention for back-to-back honours following their semi-final replay loss to Kilmacud Crokes in the Dublin SFC by 2-11 to 1-7, with Mark Vaughan kicking nine points for the winners, while Mark Davoren and Pat Burke were the goal scorers. Tweet

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