THERE WILL BE a familiar presence in the final of this year’s Ulster senior club championship.
Crossmaglen Rangers will contest their tenth decider since 1996 after defeating Errigal Ciaran in yesterday’s semi-final tie.
They have triumphed in their nine previous appearances in finals and will be favourites to repeat that feat against Down outfit Kilcoo who will be featuring in their first ever provincial decider. They got the better of Antrim’s St Gall’s in their semi-final clash yesterday.
Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh) 2-10 Errigal Ciaran (Tyrone) 0-10
Crossmaglen Rangers claimed their first provincial success over Errigal Ciaran in their semi-final battle in St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
Errigal Ciaran had made a bright start with Tommy and Darren Canavan, nephews of Tyrone legend Peter, pointing the way as they forged a 0-6 to 0-3 lead by the 20th minute.
However Jamie Clarke then pounced for a terrific goal before the break to ensure Crossmaglen only trailed by 0-8 to 1-4 approaching the interval mark. And Crossmaglen Rangers increased the pressure after the break as they held Errigal Ciaran scoreless until the 52nd minute.
They also notched a critical second goal courtesy of captain David McKenna with nine minutes remaining and were grateful to the input of veteran attacker Oisin McConville as he struck five points.
The Canavan’s, Tommy and Darren, grabbed three points apiece for Errigal Ciaran but they suffered from the absences of Darren McDermott (suspension) and Caolan Tierney (holidays) as they attempted to build on the momentum generated from their recent victories over Cavan’s Mullahoran and Derry’s Ballinderry.
Crossmaglen Rangers now go forward to the decider on December 2nd where they will be hoping to claim their sixth title in Ulster in seven years.
Kilcoo (Down) 1-9 St Gall’s (Antrim) 0-10
Kilcoo produced a major upset to claim honours in their semi-final clash at the Athletic Grounds against Antrim outfit St Gall’s. The Down champions, who had to play the last ten minutes with fourteen men after full-back Niall McEvoy was sent-off, came back from 0-8 to 0-5 down at that stage.
Substitute Sean Devlin hit the crucial score by registering the only goal of the game before Ger McEvoy and Paul Devlin grabbed the late points that secured a two-point victory.
Devlin and Darragh O’Hanlon fired three points apiece for the Down side who will now go forward to contest the club’s first ever Ulster final. They will hope to claim the county’s first Ulster title since Burren swept to glory in 1988.
Defeat is a huge setback to 2010 All-Ireland club champions St Gall’s. They had been in excellent form this season in winning the Antrim county final, securing the Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland 7′s title and easily disposing of the challenge of Fermanagh’s Tempo Maguire’s in their quarter-final tie.
St Gall’s had lead by 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time, with Karl Stewart to the fore in attack for them. Kevin Niblock then took over the attacking mantle in the second-half to push the Antrim team into a seemingly winning position. Yet Kilcoo fought back bravely and were rewarded with a dramatic triumph.
St Gall’s Mark Kelly and Anto Healey with Kilcoo’s Ryan Johnston. Pic: INPHO/Presseye/William Cherry
