McCartan the hero as Ciaran end 22-year Ulster famine

Errigal Ciaran 1-8 Kilcoo 0-10

Peter Og McCartan sent Errigal Ciaran soaring to Ulster glory with a dramatic stoppage time winner to settle a gripping decider at the Box-It Athletic Grounds.

Fourteen-man Kilcoo looked like they were about to hang on and send the game to extra-time, but the Tyrone champions pressed feverishly in search of that precious score.

It was Errigal's third provincial title, adding to the triumphs of 1993 and 2002, and they remain the only team from the county to have been crowned champions of Ulster.

Errigal got off to the perfect start with a Joe Oguz goal after just four minutes, the big midfielder getting forward to palm to the net from Darragh Canavan’s cross to cancel out Eugene Branagan’s long range opener.

The Down champions’ heavy press on the opposition kick-out paid dividends as goalkeeper Niall Kane converted a long range free, followed by a Miceal Rooney point.

But as the Tyrone men attacked in numbers, Kilcoo dropped all fifteen men behind the ball to negate the attacking class possessed n the men from Dunmoyle.

Tommy Canavan edged Errigal back in front at the beginning of the second quarter, but once again, the men in black countered to regain the lead through Paul Devlin.

Their dynamic half back line contributed four points in that first half, with inspirational centre back Darym Branagan firing over a beauty for a two points lead, moments after Tiarnan Colhoun had an Errigal goal disallowed for a square ball infringement.

But it was the Red Hand champions who scored the last two points of the half, displaying excellent ball retention for Darragh Canavan to bring them level, 1-3 to 0-6 at the break.

Corner back Ciaran Quinn edged Errigal back in front and as tensions threatened to boil