Cross hold firm in fiery battle in Belfast

AN altogether familiar scoreline but the All-Ireland champions’ way of going about it was far from usual.

Seven up at the break, they were pulled back to within a point with six minutes to go, this despite enjoying a numerical advantage for over 30 minutes.

Points from Stephen and Tony Kernan either side of their brother Aaron picking up a second yellow card pushed Crossmaglen three ahead before Oisín McConville, who had opened the scoring with a bizarre point that hopped off the ground and over the Ballinderry bar, finished proceedings.