Madden 0-20 Cullyhanna 0-09
It was written in the stars as Madden won the Armagh Senior Club Championship for their first ever time in emphatic fashion.
Played in the Box-IT Athletic Grounds, the Madden team that was rocked by tragedy almost two years ago, delivered a performance for the ages as they owned the contest throughout.
The expected Cullyhanna comeback failed to materialise as the south Armagh side used all their get of out jail cards to get this far as they continue to search for their maiden senior championship win.
Madden looked in control at the break with a six-point lead but this scenario had been par for the course for this Cullyhanna team over the Championship.
In every knock-out game they had come from at least seven points down at half-time and against Crossmaglen Rangers they were nine points down in the last ten minutes before prevailing.
That said, there was nothing to suggest that a comeback was on the cards because Madden seemed comfortable dictating the pace, soaking up all the midfield pressure and picking off scores, with Man of the Match Darragh McMullan linking up play.
Madden were two points to the good, through Aron McKenna and Conor Grimley (free) before Aidan Nugent's two-point free on ten minutes levelled the score.
Mark Harte’s Madden were set-up to win the midfield battle, no surprise with Niall Grimley their chief operator but Cullyhanna couldn’t win their own ball and were living off scraps with Kieran Hoey’s point on the last kick of the half, the south Armagh sides’ first from play.
Armagh’s Darragh McMullan stroked over a two-pointer and Madden stretched their lead with Ciaran Rafferty, Conor Grimley and Donal Rafferty on target. Nugent’s converted free stopped the rot briefly but points from Niall Smith, Conor Grimley and Joe Sheridan put Madden in the driving seat.
As expected Cullyhanna came out of the traps all guns blazing with All-Star nominee Ross McQuillan kicking over after only 13 seconds into the restart. Shea Hoey and Nugent (free) rattled over points but Madden weathered the storm and they finished showing a strong hand too. Ciaran Rafferty, Oisin O’Hara, McMullan, Joe Sheridan and Conor Grimley kept the scoreboard ticking over as they put Cullyhanna in the review mirror.
Conor Grimley finished with a stunning eight points, including a magnificent two-pointer with the last kick of the game, while the Championship’s top-scorer Aidan Nugent, with 3-46 was sent off in additional time after picking up a second yellow card.
The night belongs to Madden, the team that has made unforgettable history for the mid-Armagh club.
Cullyhanna: James Carragher, Sean Og Irwin, Phelim Savage, Cathal Burns, Sean Connell, Mickey Murray, Ross McQuillan (0-01), Caolan Reavey, Gavan Duffy, Jason Duffy, Shea Hoey (0-01), Gary Mackin (0-01), Aidan Nugent (0-04, 1tpf), Tony Donnelly, Kieran McCooey.
Subs used: D Gribben for Mackin (55), N McCreesh for Reavey (55).
Madden: Jamie Sheridan, Shea Vallely, Tony O’Hagan, Peter Lappin, Oisin O’Hara (0-01), Donal Rafferty (0-01), Niall Smith (0-01), Dylan Crilly, Cathal Donnelly, Aron McKenna (0-02), Ciaran Rafferty (0-02), Darragh McMullen (0-03, 1tp), Joe Sheridan (0-02), Niall Grimley, Conor Grimley (0-08, 0-6f, 1tpf).
Subs used: P Smith for McKenna (54).
Referee: Neil McGeown (Sarsfields).
