Crossmaglen Rangers 1-9 Dr Crokes 1-9:All sorts of things were confirmed during Saturday's ragged but exciting AIB All-Ireland club football final. The decisive confirmation was of how hard it is to put away Crossmaglen, but along the way we had also demonstrations of the ability of Crokes coach Pat O'Shea to weave irresistible attacking patterns and, most strikingly, the quality of two of the game's top forwards, Colm Cooper and Oisín McConville.
It was the latter who hit the vital scores for an out-of-sorts Cross team. Both were trailed by controversy. The last-seconds equaliser came after over-carrying of a dramatic order - steps in double figures - and its accuracy was even in doubt.
But you had to admire the chutzpah of McConville, mindful that if he didn't get the score no-one would, and spinning his way across massed Crokes cover to get off the critical shot.
The goal he scored in the 34th minute was another typical contribution from the veteran forward. He hadn't had the most conspicuous first half but as soon as Michael McNamee got possession in the right corner on a break, in came McConville screaming for the pass.
Once in possession he cut in on goal and expertly rounded Kieran Cremin to slide in the goal that should have sent the Armagh champions on their way, at 1-4 to 0-3 - more than double margin in a low-scoring match - amid suggestions of a third-man tackle in the build-up.
But within a minute Cooper responded in what took on the appearance of a conjuring match. It's been noted, and acknowledged by the player himself, that his club game is multifaceted in comparison to what Kerry require of him, and this was an indication.
Having been used in an advanced role in the first half, Cooper was beginning to drift and take up the reins from deeper positions. From the kick-out he got on the ball and placed Shane Doolan - who acquitted himself well as the late replacement for the injured Andrew Kenneally - perfectly for an immaculately swift response.
From then on Crokes looked the more likely winners and with little more than eight minutes left, David Moloney's point pushed them three ahead, 1-9 to 1-6.
But John McEntee and a free from McConville reduced the difference to a point as Crossmaglen went up a gear. Time was running out when Stephen Kernan, who didn't start the match, and Tony McEntee hit wides before McConville's late intervention - made possible by a great catch at centrefield from the impressive David McKenna.
Saturday may have been Crokes' big chance. Cross were off the pace, their marking poor and ruthlessly exposed by their opponents' smart movement of the ball and their shooting wayward.
"We got out of jail," said McConville afterwards.
"You can roll out all the cliches. We gave the ball away and nine-tenths of the law is about keeping possession. We're lucky to still be there and were happy enough coming off the field but we've been there so many times - the legs were weary but experience comes into it. We have to go and reassess.
"Maybe we're not the team everyone thought we were. We need to hold on to the ball better and give it to the boys who can score. Do that and we can win the next day."
Crokes were unfortunate in conceding controversial scores and losing the two players who had won man-of-the-match awards in the drawn semi-final with Moorefield, Brian McMahon and Eoin Brosnan, to ankle knocks.
"Both look nasty enough," was manager Pat O'Shea's assessment of the injuries after the match.
Brosnan had saved the team a first-half goal, redeeming himself after dropping a ball to Martin Aherne but getting down to block the point-blank shot.
It also happened at the other end, Tony McEntee providing the block.
"We'll regroup and look forward to the replay," said O'Shea.
"The club game is about pride and passion and doing amazing things on big days.
"Crossmaglen are a very good team. You don't go undefeated as long as they have without being a great team.
"We're glad to get a second bite and we need to look at areas we can improve in."
The replay is on Sunday week in Portlaoise, where the Crossmaglen story started in earnest 10 years ago with a semi-final victory over then Kerry All-Ireland champions, Laune Rangers.
DR CROKES:K Cremin; K McMahon, L Quinn, M Moloney; B Moriarty, B McMahon, E Kavanagh; A O'Donovan (0-1),E Brosnan; B Looney (0-2), D Moloney (0-1), S Doolan (1-1); K O'Leary (0-1), J Fleming (0-1), C Cooper (0-2, both frees). Subs:J Cahillane for B McMahon (17 mins), K Brosnan for E Brosnan (49 mins), V Cooper for Doolan (63 mins).
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS:P Hearty; S McNamee, F Bellew, J Donaldson; A Kernan (0-2,frees), T McEntee, B McKeown; D McKenna (0-2),S Clarke; M Aherne, J McEntee (0-1),J Murtagh; M McNamee (0-2),J Hanratty, O McConville (1-2, one free). Subs:S Kernan for Aherne (38 mins), P Kernan for Clarke (40 mins), C Short for Hanratty (50 mins), T Kernan for McNamee (52 mins).
Referee: S Doyle(Wexford).
