Crossmaglen 1-19 Granemore 0-10
Crossmaglen saw off first time challengers Granemore by 12-points to pick up their 46th senior championship title.
It was far from a vintage Cross performance, but their attacking quality proved the difference in the end, despite Jamie Clarke being well shackled by Ross Finn.
Cian McConville deservingly picked up the man of the match award as he dazzled from start to finish.
Rian O’Neill played around the middle of the field but chipped in with 0-4 and set up the only goal of the game.
Caolan Finnegan was on the end of O’Neill’s quick thinking in the first half and buried the ball into the net from the edge of the square.
That goal put Cross 1-5 to 0-2 ahead after 20 minutes, but the underdogs did put up a strong test at the start of the half.
Corner back Cathal O’Hare fired over both their scores while Marty Carr claimed a brace of frees before the break.
McConville and Callum Cumiskey (mark) put Stephen Kernan’s men ahead 1-9 to 0-4 at the short whistle.
McConville slotted over another before Granemore powered back into contention with four on the trot.
Jason O’Neill (2), Ryan Rafferty and Louis Hughes all pointed to close the gap to just five points.
But that was as good as it got for Granemore as the Rangers really turned on the style with five in a row, including a wonder score from McConville.
A wonderful catch along the sideline started the move and ended with McConville swing one over nonchalantly with his left foot.
O’Hare knocked over his third while Tony McClelland fisted a score but Cross were in no mood for letting up.
They tagged on the final four scores of the evening and clinched a 46th championship crown. They’ll now face Ballybay in the Ulster championship in two weeks time.
