Portlaoise back in final after 23-year absence

Portlaoise 0-8 Crossmaglen 0-7

It required a major effort to acquire and then defend a one-point advantage for the last 15 minutes of a gruelling encounter.

However, the fact is that three-times winners Crossmaglen Rangers spurned numerous clear-cut chances of an equaliser in injury time. And all that while they were a man down, after Stephen Kernan was red-carded in the 57th minute.