The All-Ireland club champions, Crossmaglen Rangers, produced a magnificent fight-back to end a brave challenge from Cavan champions, Gowna, in a thrilling game at Breffni Park yesterday.

A major shock looked on the cards at half time when Gowna deservedly led by 2-5 to 0-5. The first major break for Gowna came on 20 minutes when a free from Dermot McCabe was fisted to the net by his brother, Declan. Six minutes from the interval Dermot McCabe again found the net.

At the interval, Gowna led by six points. In the second half Oisin McConville converted five frees and with ten minutes left Gowna's lead was reduced to three points.

Crossmaglen launched a major offensive in the closing ten minutes after Dermot McCabe had scored a point for Gowna's final score.

A series of points from Cathal Short , Oisin McConville and sub Michael Moley levelled the scores with five minutes remaining.

With a replay looking a possibility, Crossmaglen won with Joe Fitzpatrick's free two minutes from the end.

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Hearty, M Califf, D Murtagh, G McShane, J Fitzpatrick 0-2, F Bellew, J Donaldson, J McEntee, A Cunningham 0-2, C Short 0-1, T McEntee 0-1, O McConville 0-7, J McConville, G Cumiskey , K Donnelly. Sub: M Moley 0-1, for K Donnelly.

GOWNA: P Brady, D Madden, J Brady, B Sorohan, C Madden, C Brady, T Hartin, B Morris, F Hartin, Declan McCabe 1-0, S Pierson, D Brady 0-1, G Pierson 0-1, Dermot McCabe 1-5, A Owens. Subs: P Brady for Declan McCabe , L Brady for J Brady.

Referee: M Convery (Derry).