Ulster Club FC Quarter-finals: Crossmaglen 2-9 Killyclogher 1-7 Crossmaglen Rangers signalled their intention of getting back on top of the provincial tree yesterday when they ended the aspirations of Tyrone champions Killyclogher in the Ulster club football championship.

In a performance laced with skill but backboned by fierce passion and resolve, Rangers asserted their superiority in the second half after having had their morale sabotaged in the first period when Killyclogher's abrasive edge, coupled with some slick finishing, threatened to undermine their hosts.

But when All Star Oisín McConville moved centre-stage, it was suddenly business as usual for the eight-times Armagh champions.

They may have trailed by 1-4 to 1-3 at the halfway stage but at the beginning of the final quarter, even though they were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of Cormac Clarke, there was no doubting Crossmaglen's dominance.

McConville's 27th-minute penalty goal cancelled Gary Martin's earlier strike for the visitors and set the tone for a commanding second-half show by McConville who smashed in a second goal in the 43rd minute and pocketed seven points in all.

It was a stunning input to which a beleaguered Killyclogher defence, in which Dermot Carlin and Ciarán Howe struggled manfully, had no answer.

McConville's opportunism was complemented by the pace and drive of Michael McNamee and Cathal Short while at the back, Francie Bellew and Aaron Kernan proved the twin rocks on which many Killyclogher attacks floundered.

Yet Rangers had cause to be grateful to goalkeeper Paul Hearty who brought off two magnificent saves from the dangerous Leo Meenan - saves that ultimately proved crucial to Crossmaglen's success.

Meenan, along with Ciarán Carland and Vinnie Owens, worked hard up front for Killyclogher but overall their attack lacked real punch and invention.

Crossmaglen now meet Derry champions Loup in the Ulster football semi-final.

CROSSMAGLEN RANGERS: P Hearty; J Fitzpatrick, G O'Neill, F Bellew; A Kernan (0-1), J Donaldson, B McKeown; T McEntee, S Clarke; C Clarke, A Cunningham, O McConville (2-7); M McNamee (0-2), D Murtagh, C Short. Sub: J McEntee for S Clarke (43 mins).

KILLYCLOGHER: M O'Kane; D Carlin, T McKenna, E Bradley; N Bradley, C Howe, S O'Kane; B Meenan, B McElroy; N Corcoran, C Carland (0-3), D Meenan; L Meenan (0-2), V Owens, G Martin (1-1). Subs: P O'Kane (0-1) for D Meenan (35 mins); M Swift for S O'Kane (48 mins); S McFadden for Corcoran (50 mins).

Referee: J White (Donegal).