AIB Ulster Senior Football Club Championship

Crossmaglen Rangers (Armagh)   1-8

Clontibret    (Monaghan)   1-7

Despite playing for almost three quarters of the game with 14 players Ulster and All Ireland at club champions, Crossmaglen Rangers, got their 12th consecutive Ulster club championship campaign off to a winning start when they held out for the narrowest of victories in a somewhat controversial finish to this tough, hard-hitting and at times rugged quarter-final in Clones on Sunday last.

In the final analysis it was their hugely experienced players like Tony and John McEntee along with Oisin McConville who carved out this victory, John McEntee showing great leadership and Oisin McConville picking off some inspirational scores despite missing a penalty in the first half.

Crossmaglen were awarded two penalties in the opening period as well as having John Donaldson sent off in the 19th minute for a striking offence against Dessie Mone but they were able to compensate by digging into their huge reserves of hunger and commitment to survive. Crossmaglen led at half-time by 1-3 to 0-4 and within six minutes of the restart had extended their lead to four points with strikes from Oisin McConville and Martin Ahern.

By the 10th minute Clontibret were right back in the game when Vincent Corey tore through the heart of the Crossmaglen defence for a goal that brought the margin down to the minimum but before they could capitalise Aaron Kernan and Oisin McConville had restored the champions to a three points lead. With just one further exchange of scores in normal time Crossmaglen held a three points advantage going into stoppage time with Clontibret mounting a late rearguard action to pull back two points by Dessie Mone and Padraig Duffy to leave the minimum between the sides. Referee Martin Sludden had indicated four minutes of stoppage time but six and a half minutes had elapsed when Clontibret were awarded a '45.  A direct strike might have salvaged a draw but Paul McGuigan opted to go short to Dessie Mone who appeared to be fouled when he won possession but the whistle was for full time with the champions home by the minimum margin.  Following the final whistle a fairly serious incident involving a number of players from both sides erupted with Crossmaglen's Cathal Shortt being issued with a straight red card and the referee needing a Garda escort from the pitch. 

Teams and Scorers

Crossmaglen: Paul Hearty, Stephen Finnegan, Tony McEntee, Paul Kernan, Aaron Kernan 0-1, John Donaldson, Brendan McKeown, David McKenna, Stephen Clarke, Michael McNamee, John McEntee 0-1, Martin Aherne 0-2, Tony Kernan 0-1, Johnny Hanratty, Oisin McConville 1-3. Subs: Paul McKeown for S Finnegan, Cathal Shortt for J Hanratty.

Clontibret: Paul McElroy, Martin Corey, Eamonn Ward, Padraig Duffy 0-1, Darach Mooney, Dessie Mone 0-1, Paul McGuigan, John Paul Mone, Eoin Greenan, Rodney Gorman, Conor McManus 0-2, Brendan Og Magennis, Daithi McKeown, Vincent Corey 1-2, Fergal Mone 0-1.

 Subs: Ronan Murphy for B Og Magennis, Michael Hughes for R Gorman, John Golden for D McKeown, Shane Mulligan for E Ward, Darren Mulligan for M Hughes. Referee: Martin Sludden (Tyrone).