Trillick prove top dogs against Crossmaglen

Trillick 0-09 Crossmaglen 0-04

Tyrone champions Trillick dominated a one-sided second half to send Crossmaglen limping out of the Ulster Club SFC at O'Neills Healy Park.

The Armagh champions, once dominant in the northern province and beyond, but without an Ulster title in eight years, failed to score after taking a 0-4 to 0-2 lead in the 26th minute, their challenge collapsing alarmingly as the home side seized control.

Trillick threw off the shackles after a nervy opening period, running at their opponents and cashing in on their spirit of adventure.

And they had the men to pick off the scores that carried them to the semi-final, with Cross finishing with 14 men following the straight red card dismissal of skipper Jamie Clarke five minutes from the end.

A tense, tactical opening half saw both sides drop into defensive set-ups to determine that there was going to be virtually no expansive, flowing football to warm the hearts of disgruntled fans on a cold November evening.

The first quarter produced just one score, thanks to a moment of inspiration from former Armagh attacker Clarke, who spotted a gap in the cover to dart through and pick off a point.

Crossmaglen Rangers' clash with Trillick in the quarter-finals of the Ulster SFC was briefly interrupted by a pitch invader at O'Neills Healy Park. pic.twitter.com/8cXvyngVRT

Both sides were forced into speculative shots, some of which landed harmlessly in the hands of the goalkeepers, but the game did begin to open out slightly when Trillick lost sweeper Daniel Donnelly to a black card.

Rian O’Neill converted a free, before the Tyrone champions finally opened their account through James Garrity in the 21st minute.

Here's Jamie Clarke doing Jamie Clarke things for Crossmaglen