GAA: Cross Passion Puts St John's To The Sword; CROSSMAGLEN 3-10 ST JOHN'S 0-11.

FORMER all-Ireland champions Crossmaglen Rangers are back in the final of the Ulster club championship with an emphatic eight point victory over St John's in Clones yesterday.

Crossmaglen laid the foundations for victory with a blistering 12-minute spell between the third and 15th minutes of the second half.

Strangely, it was only when they fell behind for the first time in the game that they really came to life. Playing vintage football, they tore the heart out of the St John's men, hitting 2-4 as opposed to two points from the Antrim champions.

The first goal came when Cathal Short fielded well behind the St John's defender before turning and crashing the ball to the net to restore Crossmaglen's lead.

It was a score that galvanised Cross and they proceeded to totally outplay the Antrim champions in every sector as they racked up the scores that were to ultimately see them through.

The switching of big Colm O'Neill from corner forward to a more central role was crucial to this dramatic turnaround as he won the vital possession that kept Crossmaglen on the offensive.

The diminutive Jim McConville had been the subject of some very close attention from the St John's defence but he gained revenge in the 15th minute when he slammed home a penalty after Cathal Short had been grounded at the end of a laser-quick counter-attack that started with full back Donal Murtagh.

It was this vintage football that pleased team manager Joe Kernan most when he spoke after the game.

"We were not great in the first half and I was a little worried that we might have a repeat of last year's performance.

"At half time I asked the boys to give it 100 per cent and we really took the game by the scruff of the neck in the second half.

"We used the ball better, we used the space better and Michael Moley made a big difference in the attack."

The Crossmaglen performance in the second half was in total contrast to the opening period with the exchanges very close and the sides level at 0-5 each at half time.

Within 30 seconds of the restart Jim McConville saw a brilliant effort come off the upright but it was only a temporary setback as Cathal Short's goal got the Rangers moving.

Leading by eight points entering the final quarter Crossmaglen had only to indulge in an exercise of containment and they did this to great effect with Donal Murtagh at full back being a tower of strength.

St John's, to their credit, battled gamely and pulled back two points through Gearoid Adams and Paddy Nolan but it was more a token response.

Crossmaglen finished with a flourish that saw Michael Moley netting their third goal as he sidefooted the ball under the advancing Brian McNulty even though he was being forced away from the goal at the time.

Crossmaglen now play Derry champions Bellaghy in the final in Clones on Sunday November 22.

CROSSMAGLEN: P Hearty, M Califfe, D Murtagh, C Dooley, F Shields (0-1), F Bellew, G McShane, J McEntee, A Cunningham (0-1), O McEntee, C Short (1-2), O McConville (0-5), J McConville (1-0), G Cumiskey, C O'Neill. Subs: M Moley (1-1) for G Cumiskey, J Fitzpatrick for F Shields, C Donnelly for O McEntee.

ST JOHN'S: B McNulty, L McCurdy, M Bohill, M O'Neill, G Adams (0-2), J Kelly, C Anderson, J Murphy, G Heaney (0-1), E McAtamney (0-4), J Wilson (0-1), D Swail, A McGowan, B Mackin, D Kennedy. Subs: E McKenna (0-1) for B Mackin, P Nolan (0-1) for G Heaney, C McKnight (0-1) for E McAtamney.