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Armagh's super sub Conor Turbitt insisted it was his teams desire to give everything that saw Clann Eireann crowned Armagh senior club champions for the first time since 1963.
It was a frantic and chaotic finale to and entertaining contest, which broke Crossmaglen hearts after they had looked to have done enough.
Ultimately though Clann Eireann thought otherwise and goals in the last 11 minutes from substitutes Ruairi McDonald and Jack Conlon overturned Crossmaglen’s six-point to put the Lurgan side ahead. And although Rangers battled back it was Turbitt who fired over two vital late, late points to ensure the Gerry Fegan Cup returned to his native Clann Eireann.
“We have worked so hard throughout the year so we knew that we had it in the legs and we knew not to give up, that if it is going to come then it will come,” Turbitt said.
“And whenever we got in at the water-break we decided it was time to go for it. We went man-to-man and we ended up coming out on top.”
And they did just that and Lady luck was looking down on them when Conlon’s effort on 59 minutes deceived the Cross defence to end up in the net. It was sheer class for McDonald’s goal ten minutes earlier, which had levelled the score.
Beforehand, Cross led 0-03 to 0-01 at the first water-break but the sides were level at 0-05 each at half-time. Turbitt and Kelly traded points with Callum Cumiskey, Cian McConville and Rian O’Neill.
Tony Kernan, Dara O’Callaghan, Oisin and Rian O’Neill and Cian McConville were among the scorers that gave Cross a healthy 0-11 to 0-05 lead with 44 minutes played. But with Ryan Henderson, Tiarnan Kelly and Turbitt clawing back points and then the rapid goals, the Lurgan side took the lead when it mattered most and are worthy champions. They will play Antrim champions Creggan in the Ulster championship next month.
Final Score: Crossmaglen Rangers 0-16 Clann Eireann 2-12
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: T McConville, P Stuttard, C Dillon, P Hughes, A Kernan, J Morgan (0-01), T O’Callaghan, S Morris, R O’Neill (0-05, 0-02 frees), C Cumiskey (0-02), O O’Neill (0-02), T Kernan (0-01), D O’Callaghan (0-02), C McConville (0-02, 0-2 frees), C Finnegan.
Subs used: T Og Duffy for T O’Callaghan (ht’).
CLANN EIREANN: E Mulholland, C O’Carroll, B McCambridge, D Leatham, S McCarthy, S Heffron, A Kelly, C Bell, T Kelly (0-02), D Magee, R Henderson (0-01), D McCarthy, C Turbitt (0-08, 0-1 45’, 0-1 mark, 0-1 free), A McConville.
Subs used: R McDonald (1-00) for Bell (39’), J Conlon (1-01) for A McConville (39’) P McKenna for D Magee (54’).
Referee: O Hearty (Belleek).
