Cormac Leonard Armagh Senior Football Championship, Group B, round two: High Moss Sarsfields 0-11 Crossmaglen Rangers 0-14
CROSSMAGLEN brought a traumatic week for their club to an end with a hard-earned win against an obstinate Sarsfields side on the Loughshore.
Football would have been far from the minds of the men in black and amber as they laid their team-mate Caolan Finnegan to rest on Monday but football is what they do in Crossmaglen and the determination the Rangers showed to win a game that was level seven times would have pleased their friend ‘Stringer’ was has gone long before his time and will never be forgotten.
Before throw-in, Sarsfields legend Brian McAlinden spoke about how clubs often refer to “nearly beating Cross”. His words turned out to be prophetic because the underdogs – helped by some poor finishing from the visitors it must be said – were right in the game until the final quarter when they seemed to lose energy and belief.
“We just didn’t see it through,” said Sarsfields manager Brendan Hughes.
“We had a few fellas coming back from injury and they’re not match-fit and that probably showed in the last 15 minutes.
“We’ve been decimated with injuries and some of the boys came back and put their bodies on the line. Michael Stevenson is due surgery and he postponed it to play in the championship and you can’t ask more of any fella than that.
“But it’s football. Crossmaglen have had a tough week and our hearts are still with them over what happened to Caolan. We’ve lost a game of football, they’ve lost a friend and a team-mate.”
The first half was a tit-for-tat affair with one side edging ahead only for the other to reply. Sarsfields sat deep and, with full-forward Kevin McAlinden providing the outlet, looked to hit Cross on the counter.
Cross had more possession and had no problem creating chances but they missed the finishing power and physicality of suspended Rian O’Neill and hit six wides and spurned three presentable goal chances before they burst into a two-point lead just before half-time.
The loss of full-back Rico Kelly to a suspected hamstring injury was a setback and a Paul McGeown free followed by Thomas McAlinden’s excellent score left it level (0-7 apiece) at the break.
Cross registered three of the first four scores of the second half. Sarsfields butchered their only goal chance of the game but they did get a point out of it and McGeown’s second free and an audacious effort from Thomas McAlinden left one in it (0-11 to 0-10) going into the final quarter.
A player on either side went into the book as the temperature began to rise but somehow the energy began to drain from Sarsfields and they weren’t able to muster the grandstand finish needed to cause an upset.
Cross edged ahead with a pair of well-struck Cian McConville frees and, although McAlinden replied with another eye-catching score, hard-working Aaron O’Neill popped up on the right to restore the defending champions’ three-point lead.
Sarsfields replied with a high ball barrage but Crossmaglen weathered the storm and when Pearse Blessing rose highest to grab a last ditch Hail Mary referee Gary Marshall blew the long whistle.
A much-needed win for Cross who face Granemore in a play-off for second place in the group next weekend.
Sarsfields: S McArdle; E McMahon, Seamus McAlinden, Shane McAlinden; D O’Hanlon, N Kerr (0-1), Sean McAlinden; C McCann, F Kelly; P McGeown (0-2 frees), T McAlinden (0-4), K McAlinden (0-1); M Stevenson (0-1), E McGeown (0-2 frees), P McGaughey
Subs: E Lennon for Shane McAlinden (47), C Stevenson for McGaughey (50), P McCavigan for Sean McAlinden (59), L Donnelly for E McMahon (59)
Yellow cards: Sean McAlinden (46), E Lennon (50)
Crossmaglen: C Derry; T Og Duffy, R Kelly, H Cumiskey; O McKeown, C Cumiskey (0-1), O Kieran (0-1); S Morris (0-2), O O’Neill; C McConville (0-7, 0-5 frees), P Hughes, P Blessing; R Fitzpatrick (0-1), A O’Neill (0-2), H Cumiskey
Subs: O Carragher for Kelly (30), D Cumiskey for Fitzpatrick (47), A Farrelly for G Carragher (58)
Yellow card: McConville (45)
Referee: G Marshall
