Cormac Leonard Armagh SFC semi-final: Cullyhanna 1-21 Crossmaglen 0-23
There will be a new name on the Gerry Fagan Cup this year after Cullyhanna produced a rousing late comeback to stun Crossmaglen and book their place in the Armagh SFC final.
They will face Madden in a fortnight’s time after battling back from nine points down midway through the second half as a last-gasp Aidan Nugent two-pointer gave them the lead for only the second time in the game.
Crossmaglen led by seven at the break thanks to seven points from play from Oisin O’Neill and, despite a Shea Hoey goal for Cullyhanna early in the second half, they looked to be cruising towards yet another county final appearance.
Yet, the tide slowly began to turn for St Pat’s with Cian McConville shown a black card as Rangers began to run out of steam.
Cullyhanna could hardly have wished for a better start as Jason Duffy hit a stunning two-pointer from 45 metres out within the opening minute.
Crossmaglen’s reply with emphatic as Cian McConville split the posts before Oisin O’Neill matched Duffy’s effort from a similar range.
O’Neill could do no wrong in the first half with Nugent missing three scoring chances at the other end with Hoey also dropping a short short.
Two late points from Jason Duffy and Ross McQuillan helped keep Cullyhanna in contention at the break.
Crossmaglen played some exceptional football on the restart with Rian O’Neill delivering some stunning passes for Oisin O’Neill and McConville to convert.
Hoey’s goal arrived via an equally brilliant ball from Nugent and Gavan Duffy added a point from play moments later to cut the gap to five. Cross didn’t flinch as they hit 0-4 without reply to lead 0-22 to 1-10 with McConville scoring another hat-trick of points.
The Armagh attacker would have to watch the closing 10 minutes from the bench after picking up a black card for dragging back Duffy.
Nugent found his range when it mattered most and back-to-back two-point frees got Cullyhanna back in the hunt with five minutes left.
Ross McQuillan’s fisted effort preceded another brace of two-pointers from Nugent with the second one coming from play to put his side one-point ahead.
There was still time for further drama as Fearghal Laverty awarded Cross a free outside the arc for a foul by Duffy on Aaron O’Neill.
However, Rian O’Neill dropped his effort short and Cullyhanna cleared the danger as they booked their place in the county final for the first time since 2016.
Cullyhanna scorers: Aidan Nugent 0-13 (4tpfs, 1tp, 0-2fs), Jason Duffy 0-4 (1tp), Shea Hoey 1-0, Ross McQuillan 0-3, Gavan Duffy 0-1
Crossmaglen scorers: Oisin O’Neill 0-9 (2tps, 0-1m), Cian McConville 0-8 (0-2fs), Paul Hughes 0-2, Rian O’Neill 0-1, Aaron O’Neill 0-1, Ronan Fitzpatrick 0-1, Darron McDonnell 0-1.
Here's a recap of how Saturday's game unfolded. . .
Key Events
Full-time: Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-21
It is all over a Cullyhanna are through to the Armagh SFC final after a remarkable comeback to stun Crossmaglen!
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-21
Aaron O'Neill is fouled on the edge of the arc by Jason O'Neill. . . Rian O'Neill drops the free short!
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-21
Aidan Nugent fires over a two-pointer from play with the outside of the boot in injury-time! Cullyhanna lead by one!
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-19
Aidan Nugent converts another two-point free on the 60-minute mark. . . .
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-17
Ross McQuillan fists the ball over the bar and the gap is three points!
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-16
Miceal Murray takes too long over the restart and Aidan Nugent converts another free. . . is their time for a Cullyhanna comeback? We've played 56 minutes
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-15
Jason Duffy is fouled and Aidan Nugent converts another two-pointer
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-13
Aidan Nugent converts a two-point free for Cullyhanna with 53 minutes played
Crossmaglen 0-23 Cullyhanna 1-11
Cian McConville scores another point from play - that's 0-8 for the Armagh star
Crossmaglen 0-22 Cullyhanna 1-11
Jason Duffy lands a fine point from play with 13 minutes remaining. Cullyhanna have another mountain to climb
Crossmaglen 0-22 Cullyhanna 1-10
Paul Hughes and Cian McConville add further points from play as Cross take control of proceedings once again
Crossmaglen 0-20 Cullyhanna 1-10
Cian McConville wins a free and converts it himself to move to 0-6
Crossmaglen 0-19 Cullyhanna 1-10
Oisin O'Neill taps the kickout to Cian McConville and the Cross ace sets off towards the posts and fires over a cracking point
Crossmaglen 0-18 Cullyhanna 1-10
Gavan Duffy adds another point and, all of a sudden, Cullyhanna have a spring in their step
Goal! Crossmaglen 0-18 Cullyhanna 1-9
Jason Duffy is fouled and Aidan Nugent goes short to Shea Hoey, who turns his man and smashes the ball into the net from 20 metres!
Crossmaglen 0-18 Cullyhanna 0-9
Rian O'Neill hits a pass with the outside of the boot to brother Oisin for a mark, which his converted
Crossmaglen 0-17 Cullyhanna 0-9
Oisin O'Neill moves to 0-8 for the night with another point from play
Crossmaglen 0-16 Cullyhanna 0-9
Rian O'Neill passes inside to Cian McConville and the Cross attacker fires over his fourth point. Aidan Nugent replies at the other end for Cullyhanna
Half-time: Crossmaglen 0-15 Cullyhanna 0-8
Aaron O'Neill lands a point with the final act of the half as Crossmaglen lead by seven at half-time
Crossmaglen 0-14 Cullyhanna 0-8
Ross McQuillan lands another cracking score for Cullyhanna in injury-time
Crossmaglen 0-14 Cullyhanna 0-7
Michael Murray is fouled and Aidan Nugent makes no mistake with this free to trim the gap to seven on the cusp of half-time
Crossmaglen 0-14 Cullyhanna 0-6
Moments after Aidan Nugent misses two frees in quick succession, Ross McQuillan hits a vital score for Cullyhanna. St Pat's have fared better in the last five minutes, but they cannot convert their chances
Crossmaglen 0-14 Cullyhanna 0-5
Aaron O'Neill is fouled and Cian McConville converts as Cross move nine clear after 24 minutes
Crossmaglen 0-13 Cullyhanna 0-5
Cian McConville takes a stunning pass from Oisin O'Neill, beats two tackles and clips over his second point
Crossmaglen 0-12 Cullyhanna 0-5
Oisin O'Neill's two-pointer is downgraded to a one after a touch from the goalkeeper, but Ronan Fitzpatrick ensures Cross move to 0-12 with 16 minutes played with his first score
Crossmaglen 0-10 Cullyhanna 0-5
Ross McQuillan is fouled is Aidan Nugent converts the two-point free from just outside the 45
Crossmaglen 0-10 Cullyhanna 0-2
Darron McDonnell keeps the scoreboard ticking over as Crossmaglen surge eight clear. Cullyhanna are already on the ropes here
