Crossmaglen ... 2-10 Dromintee ... 1-8 Crossmaglen Rangers created an all-time record by claiming their seventh title in a row at Silverbridge yesterday. But they didn't have it all their own way.
This was a tough uncompromising decider in terrible conditions and both teams deserve the highest praise for producing an enthralling final.
It was touch and go for the final 15 minutes after Dromintee defender Barry Shannon had levelled matters with his 34th-minute goal.
Rangers, playing against a strong wind in the first half, led 1-5 to 0-4 at the break but really it should have been 0-5 each.
Cathal O'Rourke, whose free-taking was indifferent, missed a simple chance. Crossmaglen goalkeeper Paul Hearty caught the ball, cleared it to Frank Shields, who let fly with a long clearance.
Cathal Shortt won possession, quickly transferred to John Murtagh, who found James Hughes unmarked in front of goal and the corner forward finished clinically. That score gave Rangers a four- point interval lead when the half should have ended all square.
An early point on the restart from Anthony Cunningham consolidated the champions' lead and nine minutes into the half they led 1-7 to 0-5.
Within a two-minute spell Dromintee were level. Points from Brendan McArdle and Barry Shannon quickly followed by a Shannon goal.
Dromintee, sensing a historic victory, gained the upper hand but they were unable to score.
Having weathered the storm Rangers edged ahead again with two Oisin McConville frees.
Though Cathal O'Rourke from a close-in free narrowed the gap to the minimum with six minutes remaining the vast experience of Rangers came to the fore.
A McConville 45 was helped over by Stephen Kernan and in injury time McConville with an attempted point deceived goalkeeper Philip McEvoy, his shot dipping into the net for the clinching goal.
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Herarty; S McNamee, D Murtagh, M Califf; F Shields, F Bellew, J Donaldson; A McEntee, A Cunningham (0-1); S Kernan (0-1), J McEntee, O McConville (1-7, 5 frees); J Hughes (1-1), C Shortt, J Murtagh. Subs: G Cumiskey for John Murtagh 42 mins. Jim McConville for Hughes 59 mins
DROMINTEE: P McEvoy; M McGahan, C McCoy, S Fearon; P Higgins, E Martin, (0-1) B Shanno (1-1); A O'Rourke, D Kilgallon; B McArdle (0-1), Martin O'Rourke (0-1), S O'Neill; Michael O'Rourke (0-1), C O'Rourke (0-3, all frees), K Fearon .
Referee: J McKee (Pearse Og )
