Crossmaglen have too much craft for Pat’s

Apart from two all-too-brief spells, St Patrick’s were forced to play second fiddle to a team that oozed confidence and deployed their experience and craft to telling effect.

It was in a devastating spell midway through the first-half that the Rangers stamped their authority on the contest.

They may have made a tepid opening, during which Callum Cumiskey and Tony Donnelly traded points, but the champions hit overdrive from the ninth minute and the next ten minutes yielded six points without response.

The Rangers full-forward line of Kyle Brennan, Kyle Carragher and the ever-alert Cumiskey thrived on a sustained supply of quality possession from their midfield with the latter pair each garnering three points as a beleaguered St Patrick’s defence was systematically ripped apart.

They were offered a temporary reprieve when Robbie Tasker converted a 22nd minute free, but when Tony Kernan piloted over a Rangers free almost immediately they remained firmly in the driving seat.

A further Tasker point reduced the deficit to 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time, but the scoreline scarcely reflected the authority which Rangers had exercised wielded up until then.

That dominance was only briefly threatened at the start of the second-half before Rangers once again seized the initiative.

With David McKenna summoned from the bench to further bolster their midfield and the half-back line of Aaron Kernan, Garvan Carragher and Danny O’Callaghan forming a solid barrier, the Rangers whisked over five points between the 42nd and 50th minutes which effectively put the game out of their opponents’ reach. Even when Tasker pirated a late brace of points for St Patrick’s, Rangers still managed to finish with a flourish, Tony Kernan (2) and his brother Stephen rounding off an comprehensive display that certainly augers well for their Ulster club aspirations.

Scorers for Crossmaglen: T Kernan 0-5 all frees, K Carragher 0-4, C Cumiskey 0-3, D McKenna, M McNamee, P Grant, A Cunningham, K Brennan 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Patrick’s: R Tasker 0-5 all frees, C McKeever 0-2, T Donnelly 0-1.

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Hearty; P Hughes, P McKeown, A. McNamee; A Kernan, G Carragher, D O’Callaghan; J Hanratty, T Kernan; A Cunningham, S Kernan, M Aherne; K Brennan, K Carragher, C Cumiskey.

Subs: D McKenna for McNamee (39), P Grant for Brennan (46), L Boyce for Cunningham, P McKeever for Reel (both 58).

ST PATRICK’S: C O’Neill; K McCooey, G McCooey, M Murray; S Reel, S Connell, C Hoey; C McKeever, B McConville; L O’Hare, R Tasker, E Casey; P Casey, M Mackin, T Donnelly.

Subs: G Mackin for Donnelly, N McShane for K McCooey (both 53).

Referee: Jim Slevin (Keady).