Crossmaglen 5-16 Mullaghbawn 0-6
Crossmaglen claimed the Division One under 19 championship title with a dominating display against Mullaghbawn. From start to finish the Rangers controlled the game and three first half goals saw them well ahead at the break.
Shane Gallagher got the scoring underway seconds after the throw in before Ryan Martin doubled their advantage. Ronan Fitzpatrick notched another before Mullaghbawn opened their account through centre half back Fergal O’Brien.
It was all one-way traffic for the remainder of the half and Crossmaglen really took control of the contest. Fitzpatrick fired over his second, as did Gallagher, after Pearse Blessing’s blistering shot rattled the post.
Aaron O’Neill had another goal chance, but his effort crashed off the crossbar. He gained the rebound and split the posts. Bernard Cassidy added a point, as did Fitzpatrick before Stephen Kernan’s side found the net for the first time.
Cross pounced on the Mullaghbawn goalkeeper and Caolan Finnegan slotted the ball to the net to go 10 ahead. After a goal line scramble Jack Crummie eventually palmed the ball to the net while Cassidy punched home a third.
Crummie added a point before the half time whistle sounded, leaving Cross ahead 3-9 to 0-1 at the break. Fitzpatrick netted right from the restart and extended their growing lead with a pointed free.
Crummie traded scores with Niall Loye (free) while Martin and O’Brien also exchanged efforts. Scores from Fitzpatrick, Aaron O’Neill (3) and a Finnegan goal opened up a huge 26-point difference.
Fergal O’Brien, Mullaghbawn’s key man on the day, added his third from centre half back. That was the final score of the game, with the result beyond doubt long before that.
Crossmaglen: Conor Derry, Pearse Larkin, Thomas Og Duffy, Jamie Wallace, Aaron Haughey, Harry Cumiskey, Ronan McAlister, Ronan Fitzpatrick 1-5 (2f), Pearse Blessing, Shane Gallagher 0-2, Bernard Cassidy 1-1, Ryan Martin 0-2, Jack Crummie 1-2, Caolan Finnegan 2-0, Aaron O’Neill 0-4. Subs: Eugene McEntee for R. McAlister, Fiannan Moley for R. Martin, Martin Og Harland for J. Wallace, Jason Hanratty for J. Crummie.
Mullaghbawn: James Boyle, Gerard McVerry, Jack Bennett, Fionn McCann, Piaras McNeill, Fergal O’Brien 0-3, Joe McCann, Ryan Kelly 0-1, Patrick McAteer, Niall Loye 0-1, Pearse Magill, Ronan Murphy, Cathal Feely, Jason Murphy, Pearse Quinn 0-1. Subs: Martin McKinley for C. Feely, Aaron Tavey for F. McCann, Cian Rafferty for R. Murphy.
