Crossmaglen fire past 'Bridge to set-up Cullyhanna cracker

Reporter:

Steve Malone

Email:

steve.malone@newrydemocrat.com

Wednesday 18 September 2024 12:29

Crossmaglen Rangers 2-13 Silverbridge 1-11

DEFENDING Champions Crossmaglen Rangers have made the last eight after overcoming neighbours and recent yearly championship rivals Silverbridge on Saturday.

Played in Armagh’s Athletic Grounds, a rally of scores five minutes before half-time, undone all the work Silverbridge had grafted for the previous 25 minutes, 20 of which they kept Cross scoreless, to give Rangers the platform to play with the wind and outscore their opponents 1-09 to six points in the second half.

A goal each half from young Aaron O’Neill put the amber and black clad men on their way into the quarter-finals and the Harps where left wondering where did it go wrong, having displayed some tremendous skills in the opening period, with county man Jarly Og Burns leading the charge and Tiernan Murphy kicking the frees, with six points from as many efforts.

Silverbridge marched into a 1-04 to 0-01 lead with 22 minutes played. Pearse Blessing had opened the account for Cross, but this followed with Mark Rowland’s seventh minute goal after Tiernan Murphy’s long effort crashed off the crossbar and the Silverbridge man flicked in the rebound.

Fionn Burns and Jarly Og Burns tagged on scores and the Harps might have added a lot more to their tally had young Cross defender Aaron Haughey not snuffed out a few chances with his timely interceptions. Murphy’s free extended Silverbridge’s lead and then Joe Rock fired over an inspirational point with two Cross men hanging from him.

Cross were content in conceding the kick-out, they weren’t getting much possession and they were a few heads scratched when Rian O’Neill’s free hit the post and went wide.

Silverbridge were in control and Crossmaglen needed someone to stand up and Oisin O’Neill did just that by running at the Bridge defence, finding space to shoot and firing over a great score.

A minute later Ordhran Kierans added to the Cross tally after good work from Cian McConville and this was quickly followed by a Stephen Morris point, who was picked out in space by a fantastic cross-field pass from Oisin O’Neill. All of a sudden only a goal separated the sides and although Murphy’s 45 restored Silverbridge’s four-point lead, there was still enough time left of the half for Aaron O’Neill to lash into the net. It was a great opportunist goal as he was posited perfectly when Aaron Haughey’s initial shot was blocked.

So, in a matter of five minutes Cross had cut Silverbridge’s lead of six points to one, with the Harps leading 1-05 to 1-04 at the break.

Murphy made it three frees from three, before county team-mates Cian McConville and Jarly Og Burns traded super scores. McConville kicked from 45-metres, while Burns ran almost 40-metres through the Cross defence before firing over.

Kierans and Morris scored for Cross either side of Murphy’s fourth conversion and Harry Cumiskey levelled the score 1-08 to 1-08 with only 38 minutes gone. A minute later brother Daniel Cumiskey edged Crossmaglen ahead for the first time.

Rangers had found their groove it seemed, but Murphy levelled before Cian McConville fisted Cross ahead again, after a clever pass from cousin Rian.

Rian O’Neill’s only score came from a 45’ on 46 minutes and while Sean Rock (free) replied Rangers grabbed the initiative when Aaron O’Neill ran into space to receive the long ball and with the goal in front, he weaved between defenders Jack McArdle and Paddy Rell before cooly slotting into the net. Pearse Blessing increased Crossmaglen’s lead with his second point and Silverbridge faced a mammoth task to claw back the five points against the wind with as many minute of normal time remaining.

The stuffing had been knocked out of the Harps as Cross controlled the tempo with keep-ball. Murphy did converted his sixth free and Crossmaglen’s Tomas Og Duff snatched a point.

It is a fine win for Crossmaglen, who have had a tough time and star player Oisin O’Neill said he hopes this win pushes the team on.

“We knew there was going to be nothing easy, especially when they won the toss played with the wind in the first half, we were probably happy enough going in a point down at half-time knowing we had the aid of the breeze in the second half,” O’Neill said.

“After the second goal went in, we just set up not to concede anymore goals because you know against the breeze, they probably weren’t going to be able to kick the five or six points they needed to turn us over.

“Obviously we had a sort of tricky month, it was a bit disjointed with everything that went on in our club and our community. We are just taking it one game at a time, one training session at a time. Mood is still a little low, hopefully wins like tonight can push things on another bit.”

CROSSMAGLEN SCORERS: A O’Neill (2-00), C McConville (0-03, 0-1 free), Pearse Blessing (0-02), Odhran Kierans (0-02), Stephen Morris (0-02), Rian O’Neill (0-01, 45’), Daniel Cumiskey (0-01), Harry Cumiskey (0-01), Tomas Og Duffy (0-01).

SILVERBRIDGE SCORERS: Tiernan Murphy (0-06, all frees), Mark Rowland (1-00), Jarly Og Burns (0-03), Fionn Burns (0-01), Sean Rock (0-01).

ARMAGH CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

Friday (September 20)

Intermediate Football Championship

In Clady: Carrickcruppen St Patrick's V Grange St Colmcille's – 7.15pm Ref: Conor McGahan

At Davitt Park: Wolfe Tone V Annaghmore Pearses – 7.30pm Ref: Oliver Hearty.

Saturday (September 21)

Intermediate Football Championship

At St Paul's: Pearse Og V Clann Eireann at 3.30pm - Ref: Ruan McKinstry.

Senior Football Championship

At BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh: Clan na Gael V Killeavy St Moninna at 5.30pm - Ref: Enda Mallon

At BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, Armagh: Armagh Harps V Clann Eireann at 7.30pm Ref: Paudie Hughes.