Armagh 3-10
Tyrone 0-13

Three well-timed goals helped 13-man Armagh claim some silverware ahead of the new season this afternoon as they overcame Tyrone in the O Fiaich Cup final at Crossmaglen.

Ethan Rafferty (2) and Conor White registered the goals for Kieran McGeeney's men as they could afford to lose the latter and Aidan Forker to a red card with 15 minutes remaining, having built up a nine-point lead against last year's champions.

Rafferty's two majors came either side of half-time and kept the Orchard men's lead cushioned after their neighbours had pulled level in the closing stages of first-half regulation.

It was a five-point game when Michael Cassidy struck the Armagh crossbar at a crucial juncture in the 64th minute and from there on the winners would only concede a Lee Brennan point which was more than enough for the win.

The holders fell behind early in this decider before pulling level through the points of Cassidy, Cahir McCullagh and Harry Loughran and then bringing in Peter Harte to replace the injured Conor Clarke on 14 minutes.

Armagh struck their first hammer blow a minute afterwards with White finding the visitors' net, but through the splendid shooting of Ronan O'Neill and Cathal McShane Tyrone were level again with the interval approaching.

Armagh's Aidan Forker and Rory Grugan with the O'Fiaich Cup.
©INPHO/Presseye/Philip Magowan.

Five minutes of added time would benefit the winners more though as Rafferty raised a second green flag, which had it at 2-5 to 0-7 when the sides went in at the break.

Armagh's grip on the trophy tightened more after Rafferty landed a quick 1-1 within two minutes of the restart, leaving the Ulster champions with a mountain to climb. 

Mickey Harte's side made a full-blooded attempt at it as well, rattling off four unanswered points through Declan McClure (2), Jonathan Munroe and O'Neill (free) after Forker had picked up his second yellow, but sub Stefan Campbell helped to steady the ship with a fine point prior to Paul Hughes putting a seal on the win late on.

Armagh - P Morrison; P Hughes (0-1), B Donaghy, R McCaughey; J McElroy, S Heffron, C Higgins; B Crealey (0-1), S Sheridan; A Forker, C White (1-0), R Grugan (0-2f); A Duffy (0-1), E Rafferty (2-3, 0-1'45, 0-1f), O MacIomhair (0-1f). Subs: M McNeice for P Morrison, S Campbell (0-1) for A Duffy, C Vernon for C Higgins, A McKay for S Heffron, A Findon for E Rafferty, J Hall for O MacIomhair.

Tyrone - M O'Neill; R Mullan, HP McGeary, M Cassidy (0-1); H Loughran (0-1), J Munroe, C Meyler; C Clarke, C McShane (0-1); D McClure (0-2), R O'Neill (0-6, 5f), C McCullagh (0-1); D McCurry, N McKenna, R McHugh. Subs: P Harte for C Clarke, N Sludden for R Mullan, A McCrory for C McCullagh, L Brennan (0-1) for N McKenna, F Burns for R McHugh.

Referee - M McNally.

Comhghairdeas to @Armagh_GAA on becoming #OFiaichCup Champions 2016! pic.twitter.com/cWhw6NMS5y

- Crossmaglen Rangers (@crossrangers) December 18, 2016

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