Crossmaglen Rangers 2-17
Scotstown 2-12
(after extra time)
THE MORE THINGS change, the more they stay the same.
Crossmaglen Rangers are the Ulster senior football champions for a remarkable 11th time, but they were made to sweat by a brave Scotstown in the Athletic Grounds.
Shane Carey held his nerve over a late free to earn the Monaghan club a 1-10 to 1-10 draw and force extra time.
But Cross hit the front with a Kyle Carragher goal in the second additional period, and Brian McGinnity’s late goal proved to be little more than a consolation for Scotstown.
“It was an unbelievable battle but we got there in the end and that is the important thing,” Crossmaglen joint-manager Oisin McConville told BBC Sport.
We let our guard slip for a spell in the second half which was not good, but there is a lot of fight in our team.
Cross led 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time with Tony Kernan raising the green flag after they had gone behind to an early Darren Hughes goal.
Scotstown enjoyed the better of the second half with Cross reduced to 14 men when Danny O’Callaghan was shown a straight red card.
But Kernan’s free gave the Armagh giants a late lead before Carey cancelled it out.
Cross were restored to full strength in extra-time, and then it was their turn to enjoy the extra man as Kieran Hughes was shown to the line just five minutes in.
They led 1-13 to 1-11 after the first additional period before a mistake by Scotstown keeper Rory Beggan proved costly and allowed Carragher to score the decisive goal.
Good signing