ULSTER SFC FINAL Crossmaglen Rangers 1-10 Ballinderry 1-10: COMEBACK KINGS Crossmaglen were left shell-shocked by a brilliant Ballinderry comeback after a sensational and controversial finish to this Ulster decider at Brewster Park.
The Derry champions hit 1-2 in the final six minutes to get another chance next Sunday in a tempestuous affair that saw three sent off and a broadside launched at referee Martin Sludden.
"Bad referees make bad decisions," said Crossmaglen's John McEntee who saw red along with Michael McNamee and Ballinderry's Conor Wilkinson.
Wilkinson and McNamee were sent off for second yellow card offences in the 20th and 37th minutes respectively. But the talismanic McEntee was given a straight red card after a clash with Ballinderry's Darren Conway six minutes from time.
Sludden also doled out seven yellow cards.
Team boss Donal Murtagh vowed Rangers would be appealing the decision ahead of Sunday's replay.
At that stage, Rangers led by five points thanks to a clinically executed goal from ace predator Oisín McConville, 1-10 to 0-8. It looked like the 13 men from Crossmaglen would hold out until Ballinderry full back Niall McCusker smashed the ball to the roof of the net after an Enda Muldoon shot was brilliantly blocked by Cross's giant goalkeeper Paul Hearty.
Both sides had chances of victory in the final frantic moments, but a draw was probably a fitting result. But this was a major psychological victory for plucky Ballinderry who refused to die.
For long periods Ballinderry tried to break through the sturdy Cross rearguard only to be met with all the champions' craft, guile and muscle.
The Rangers were going for a record seven Ulster titles and, for 53 minutes, it looked like they were on course. They consistently outmuscled and outhustled the lighter Derry men, who failed to score from the second to the 28th minute in the first half.
Cross led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval, but it scarcely reflected their dominance. To complete their woes, Ballinderry lost Conor Wilkinson a tad harshly through a second yellow card.
And it looked like Cross were cruising when Michael McNamee kicked two superb points with either foot early in the second-half. However, he was dismissed by referee Sludden after picking up a second yellow card in an incident with Michael Bell.
Ballinderry refused to panic and Michael McKinless tossed on Ronan McGuckin and James Bateson to beef up their challenge.
They hauled Cross back to the minimum margin, 0-9 to 0-8, but substitute John Murtagh stretched the Rangers lead just before McConville's goal.
It looked like Cross were cantering home until that truly frenetic finish.
Ballinderry can thank Muldoon, Devlin, James Conway and McCusker for this Lazarus effort under the bright lights of Brewster Park.
But Crossmaglen must be wondering how this title slipped away in the shadows.
CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Hearty; R Carragher, F Bellew, P McKeown; A Kernan (0-2, frees), J Donaldson, P Kernan; T McEntee, D McKenna (0-1); M McNamee(0-2), J McEntee, S Kernan (0-1); T Kernan (0-1), C Short, O McConville (1-2, one free). Subs: J Murtagh (0-1)for Shortt (40 mins); J Clarke for T Kernan (43 mins); S Finnegan for Bellew (52 mins); R Kelly for S Kernan (56 mins).
BALLINDERRY: M Conlon; D Bell, N McCusker (1-0), C Wilkinson; M McIver, K McGuckin, C Nevin; J Conway (0-1), B McGuckin; M Harney, D Conway (0-1), C Devlin (0-6, four frees); R Wilkinson, E Muldoon (0-1), C Gilligan (0-1). Subs: R McGuckin for Harney (33 mins); M Bell for Nevin; J Bateson for B McGuckin (39 mins).
Referee: M Sludden(Tyrone).
