Crossmaglen's manager Joe Kernan wasn't quite laconic after this heart-stopping AIB Ulster football final at Clones but he had it all figured. "At this time of the year, a point is often good enough," he said as the Armagh champions celebrated the narrowest of victories over Derry's Bellaghy.
This was a fine display by the 1997 All-Ireland champions, who had all but one of their winning team from two seasons ago on display.
Despite this experience, the team has an average age of only around 24 - an astounding statistic considering the icy-calm composure with which Crossmaglen came through yesterday's fraught climax.
Two minutes into the four minutes scrupulously added by referee Brian Crowe, Oisin McConville played a precision-ball into Micheal Moley and the energetic substitute full forward came out, turned his man and fisted the winning point.
Thereafter Bellaghy orchestrated blanket attack but Crossmaglen coolly defused the threat and played their lead out to the end.
The winners also had to play the last quarter a man short after the dismissal of wing back Gary McShane in the 46th minute but raised their game so comprehensively that they negotiated the deficiency successfully.
Once the opening exchanges settled, the final became an absorbing clash of styles between the fast-moving short game of Bellaghy and the varied tactics of Crossmaglen. There wasn't more than a score in the match except for two minutes at the end of the first half.
Bellaghy were aggrieved at what was probably the decisive moment of the match. In the 28th minute, a free to Crossmaglen was taken quickly as the referee was briefly detained by a fracas in front of him. As Bellaghy hung back from the action, Oisin McConville received the ball, moved in on goal and finished emphatically to the net.
Most expected play to be called back, but the referee allowed the goal, despite protests that the free hadn't been taken from the correct position. The score pushed Crossmaglen three points ahead and gave them momentum at the close of the first half.
Crossmaglen made two changes to their starting line-up. Joe Fitzpatrick replaced Frank Shiels at right wing back and significantly, Tony McEntee came back after a long-term injury and slotted into his usual centre-forward position with namesake Oliver McEntee dropping out.
Bellaghy switched David O'Neill and Cathal Diamond with O'Neill picking up Jim McConville and playing very well on the veteran corner forward.
The cagey initial stages were enlivened in the ninth minute with Crossmaglen 0-1 to nil ahead. Colm Dooley misread a bounce and the Bellaghy full forwards played the ball in expertly, Eunan Cassidy passing to brother Joe, who set up Cathal Scullion for a neat finish to the net.
By now the patterns were set. Bellaghy's forwards looked slick in possession and moved the ball quickly and short. Damien Cassidy was particularly impressive on the ball and had two points to show for it by half-time. But Crossmaglen defended well and frustrated most of the opposition's efforts to prise open a gap from which to score.
Bellaghy also were on top at the back despite absorbing a lot of pressure as the big physiques of the Armagh men won and processed ball relentlessly.
On the wing Cathal Short won some great possession, getting to the many accurate kicked passes dropped in on top of him and posing a constant threat.
Kernan admitted that he had been concerned about the rapid concession of three points just after the interval. Gavin Diamond's succession of frees wiped out Bellaghy's half-time lead. In the 39th minute, the Derry men nearly made a decisive break.
Damien Cassidy won a kickout and soloed through the Crossmaglen cover. He set up Paul Diamond, who quickly placed Benny Lee for a shot which ricocheted off the crossbar before being cleared.
A conservative policy probably cost the winners a couple of scores. By drawing back behind the ball, they weren't always able to exploit the space created by the pinpoint distribution, particularly from captain John McEntee who added three majestic points to his afternoon's contribution.
Afterwards Kernan admitted to a certain frustration that his team hadn't switched wings in the direction of their attacks but argued that once McShane had got the line, they had had little choice but to play deep.
The lack of a bit more on the scoreboard nearly counted against Crossmaglen when Bellaghy's late surge bridged the two-point gap which had been maintained up to the 58th minute.
But Crossmaglen kept their wits about them, were patient and capitalised when the decisive chance presented itself. They play the British champions in a fortnight and will take some beating in the All-Ireland series.
Crossmaglen Rangers: P Hearty; M Califfe, D Murtagh, C Dooley; J Fitzpatrick, F Bellew, G McShane; J McEntee (capt; 0-3), A Cunningham (0-3, all frees); C Short (0-2), T McEntee, O McConville (1-1); J McConville, G Cumiskey (0-1), C O'Neill. Subs: M Moley (0- 1) for Cumiskey (43 mins).
Bellaghy Wolfe Tones: K O'Neill (capt.); P Downey, C Diamond, D O'Neill; K Diamond, C McNally (0-1), P Diamond; D Quinn (0-1, from a 45), J Mulholland; G Dia- mond (0-5, four frees), B Lee, D Cassidy (0- 2); E Cassidy, C Scullion (1-0), J Cassidy (0- 1). Subs: F Glackin for Mulholland (49 mins), L McPeake for Scullion (57 mins).
Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).
