Rian O’Neill was on fire as Crossmaglen came from behind to secure a nine-point Armagh SFC home win over Silverbridge.

Victory means the Rangers are through to the quarter-final stage as their bid for a record-extending 48th title gathers pace.

Silverbridge led Saturday night’s Group C clash by nine points at half time, 0-12 to 0-3, but with a strong wind blowing at St. Oliver Plunkett Park, Cross' were level by the 50th minute, 0-15 apiece, and reeled off a further unanswered 1-6 to take the points and a quarter-final berth.

The 1-21 to 0-15 final scoreline represented a remarkable 18-point second-half swing as Crossmaglen outscored their south Armagh neighbours by 1-18 to 0-3 after the restart.

Substitute Darron McDonnell was on hand to blast home the game’s only goal late on but the star of the show was Rian O’Neill, who nailed no fewer than five two-pointers as well as four more points from inside the arc.

Holders Clann Eireann became the first side through to the last eight on Friday night when they had ten different scorers in a routine 1-16 to 0-6 Group D home win over Armagh Harps to take top spot, Barry McCambridge the goalscorer on the stroke of half time and Conor Turbitt with 0-4.

Carrickcruppin also advanced to the next stage as group runners-up by virtue of a 2-20 to 2-10 over Dromintee, Ben Matthews and Eoin Woods registering 1-2 apiece for the victors while All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Blaine Hughes fired over four two-pointers.

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