ARMAGH SFC FINAL Pearse Óg 0-8 Harps 0-4: THE CREATIVITY of Ronan Clarke, allied to the accuracy of Marc Cullen and a solid defensive strategy, carried Pearse Óg to their first Armagh senior football title in 17 years yesterday when they outgunned their great city rivals Harps.

Harps not only failed to score from play throughout the match, but they were unable to record a score of any hue in a second half during which Pearse Óg assumed command at midfield and suffocated Harps’ efforts to regain a foothold in the contest.

The sides were deadlocked at four points each at the interval, but with Cullen in fine form for the winners – he grabbed four points in all, three from frees – and the Clarke clan, Ronan, Seán and Conor, also lively up front, Pearse Óg always carried a much greater threat.

With Cullen completing a solid contribution by landing further points from a free and play, Pearse Óg cantered down the home straight, their journey to domestic success untarnished by the dismissals of substitutes JP Donnelly (Pearse Óg) and Stephen McAneaney (Harps) in a heated climax.

PEARSE ÓG: C McKinney; G McCoy, D Parkinson, A Mallon; P Duffy, C Rafferty, D Davidson; A Duffy (0-2), G Barton; K Hughes, R Clarke, D McManus; M Cullen (0-4, three frees), S Clarke (0-1), C Clarke (0-1 free). Subs: S Moore for C Clarke (36 mins), J P Donnelly for Davidson (44 mins), R Clarke for McManus (51 mins).

HARPS: C Lennon; K Morris, C Holmes, M McConville; D Coulter, M McCoy, S Lennon; C Vernon, P McKinney; U Lennon (0-3, all frees), P McKenna, P Toal; E Toal, G Swift, K Kelly (0-1 free). Subs: S Morrison for U Lennon (43 mins), J Quigley for Kelly (55 mins), C McKee for McKinney (55 mins), S McAneaney for McKenna (57 mins), C Coulter for E Toal (57 mins).

Referee: P Hughes(Crossmaglen).