Crossmaglen come good in replay

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 0-12 Ballinderry (Derry) 1-4 : The destination of the Ulster club football title was finally resolved…

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 0-12 Ballinderry (Derry) 1-4: The destination of the Ulster club football title was finally resolved this afternoon with the Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers claiming a seventh provincial crown.

After the first game resulted in a draw - and last weekend's replay fell foul of the weather - Crossmaglen edged a bad-tempered first-half that threatened to spill over on a number of occasions.

Indeed, matters came to a head in the tunnel at half-time with ugly scenes involving players and officials that could have repercussions for both sides.

Top-scorer Oisin McConville kicked Cross further ahead early in the second-half before points from Conleith Gilligan and James Conway narrowed that gap and when James Bateson drilled the ball under Paul Hearty the sides were level once more.

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The Derry side's revival was short-lived, however, as Michael McNamee, Aaron Kernan and Johnny Murtagh regained control for the defending champions who went on to seize control of the closing stages.

Crossmaglen go on to meet Munster champions Dromcollogher-Broadford in the All-Ireland semi-finals next February.