Cross edge out Clans in close encounter

Crossmaglen 0-19 Clan na Gael 2-11

Crossmaglen booked their place in the next round of the Senior Championship after seeing off a resilient Clan na Gael.

With the game entering injury time, Clans struck their second goal of the game to revive their chances that seemed long gone.

Niall McCann’s punched goal, coming thanks beautiful footwork from Matthew Lennon and Stefan Campbell, narrowed the gap to just one point.

Cian McConville, who contributed eight points, would have the final say however and he popped over the insurance score.

Diarmuid Marsden’s side held a slender one-point lead at the break, thanks to a fine goal by star man Campbell.

The Armagh skipper earned a brilliant turnover and ended the move with a super effort at goal. Cross narrowed the gap by hitting three of the final four first-half points.

Lennox Camara and Michael Toland were causing numerous problems for the Cross rear-guard in the opening half, striking 0-5 between them.

Game winners

Cian McConville was the man on form in the black and amber and the skilful attacker rotated in and out of the full forward line.

Rian O’Neill nailed some important opportunities, slotting a superb score at the beginning of the second half.

The Rangers piled on the pressure, controlling possession to lead by two at the second water break.

Four unanswered points seemed to put have put the game beyond doubt, but there was another twist to the tale.

McCann’s three-pointer, which came after the substitute pointed a mark, guaranteed a nervy finish.

Crossmaglen grabbed the final score through McConville, and over the course of the sixty plus minutes, deserved their victory.

There will be some aspects of their play that will concern Stephen Kernan. Question marks remain over their ability to deal with long balls towards the square.

On a positive note, Oisin O’Neill, Callum Cumiskey and Tony Kernan all got important minutes into their legs.

Youngsters Ronan Fitzpatrick and Caolan Finnegan earned their first taste of senior championship action, and both got on the scoresheet.

It’s Madden next for the Rangers. That game takes place on Sunday 25^th of September in the Athletic Grounds.

Crossmaglen: Tiarnan McConville, Tony O’Callaghan, Alan Farrelly, Chris Crowley 0-1, Aaron Kernan, James Morgan, Paul Hughes, Stephen Morris, Rian O’Neill 0-5 (1f), Paudie Stuttard, Patsy Finnegan, Odhran Kieran 0-2, Dara O’Callaghan, Cian McConville 0-8 (2f), Ronan Fitzpatrick 0-1. Subs: Tony Kernan for P. Finnegan, Caolan Finnegan 0-1 for O. Kieran, Oisin O’Neill 0-1 for D. O’Callaghan, Callum Cumiskey for P. Stuttard, Thomas Duffy for C. Crowley.

Clan na Gael: Ryan Conway, Sam McClarnon, Patrick Kelly, Danny Magee, Sean Mackle 0-1, Diarmaid O’Hagan, Jamie Brady, Lennox Camara 0-2 (2m), Shane McPartland 0-1 (1f), Mel Patterson, Niall Henderson 0-1, Stefan Campbell 1-1 (1f), Sean Farren, Michael Toland 0-3, Diarmaid Loney 0-1. Subs: Matthew Lennon for M. Toland, Michael McConville for S. Farren, Niall McCann 1-1 (1m), Eoin McCabrey for P. Kelly, Ronan Austin for D. O’Hagan.