Armagh giants slain

Enniskillen Gaels finally overcame the bogey of Armagh's Crossmaglen yesterday when they beat the former All-Ireland champions at Brewster Park.

The game was a complete contrast in styles with the Fermanagh side playing the short game while the physically stronger Crossmaglen team relied on the longer pass.

Enniskillen led by three points at half-time, but Crossmaglen were first on the scoreboard in the second half with a Joe Fitzpatrick free kick. Tom Brewster pointed from play after three minutes to restore the three-point cushion for Enniskillen.

Then came the crucial score, a goal by centre forward Gerry McDermott early in the second half which gave them a six-point cushion, but they had to withstand a rocky patch near the end before finally going through.

Crossmaglen were reduced to 14 men when second-half substitute Stephen Kernan was sent off after clashing with Niall Keenan in an off-the-ball clash.

ENNISKILLEN: B Dooris; M Millar, K Gunn, M Lilly; N Cox, N Keenan, R McCluskey; P Brewster, T Brewster (0-4); O McShea (0-1), G McDermott (1-0), R Judge (0-1); R McCabe (0-3), P Fitzpatrick, C Murphy.

CROSSMAGLEN: P Hegarty; S McNamee, D Murtagh, C Dooley; J Fitzpatrick (0-2), J Dawson, F Shields; J McEntee (0-1), T McEntee; G Cumiskey, C O'Neill, O McConville (0-5); C Shortt (0-1), A Cunningham, J Hughes.

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).