Garrycastle 1-12 Crossmaglen 1-12:The champions of Armagh and Westmeath must do it all again to decide the AIB All-Ireland club football champions after they finished level in Croke Park this afternoon.
A 56th-minute point from Crossmaglen’s David McKenna four minutes from time brought the defending champions level but some poor shooting late on cost them the chance of winning the title at the first attempt.
Garrycastle had opened up a five-point lead at one stage in the second half, but Crossmaglen’s never day die attitude was to the fore as they attacked in waves.
Patrick Mulvihill had given the Leinster champions a huge boost in the first half when he scored the game’s only goal after 21 minutes and they went on to lead by four points (1-8 to 0-7) at the interval.
Both sides were reduced to 14-men inside the first 10 minutes of the second half, with Garrycastle corner back Tom McHugh and Crossmaglen full back Paul Kernan both receiving their marching orders after receiving second yellow cards.
Crossmaglen’s Jamie Clarke saw a shot rebound off a post and his follow-up cleared off the line by Mark McCallon, but the Ulster side were in dominant form and drew level with four straight points, three from Oisín McConville.
Cross had a golden goal chance when Tony Kernan's cross picked out Clarke, who saw his effort come back off a post, and his second attempt from the rebound was cleared off the line by Mark McCallon.
But Cross were now in the ascendancy, with McKenna and Johnny Hanratty getting on top at midfield and Aaron Kernan pressing forward with purpose.
They shot four points on the spin to go level, three of them from veteran McConville, who shot a superlative effort from play to inspire his team-mates.
Dessie Dolan and Mulvihill then opened up a two-point lead for Garrycastle, but back came Cross through points from McConville and McKenna to send the game to a replay.