Crossmaglen rode their luck in the closing stages against Burren to book their place in another AIB Ulster club SFC final at Casement Park yesterday.

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 1-11
Burren (Down) 2-7

Burren had chances late on to force extra-time, the best of which fell to Down star Kevin McKernan, but he skewed his effort wide of the target and Crossmaglen held on for victory.

The four-time All-Ireland winners laid the foundations for their success in the opening 18 minutes when they stormed into an eight-point lead. Aaron Kernan gave them the lead after only 20 seconds and despite Sean Murdock levelling from a 13-metre free, Cross' surged clear with points from Oisin McConville and Johnny Hanratty before Michael McNamee netted in the seventh minute to give them a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Murdock replied for Burren, but points from McConville and Tony and Stephen Kernan saw the Armagh kingpins stretch their advantage.

However, Burren were handed a lifeline just before half-time when Murdock scored a superb individual goal to leave them trailing by five, 1-3 to 1-8, at the break.

Substitute Eoin McCartan made a big impact in the second half as the Down champions continued to eat into the Cross' lead. Murdock's accurate free-taking brought them to within three points before Damien O'Hare levelled with a goal 10 minutes from the end.

But Michael McNamee had the final say for the more experienced black and ambers.