Another extraordinary twist in the jagged narrative of the club competition. Crossmaglen, one of the oldest and most resilient clubs in the game, played within themselves to filch their second All-Ireland club football title in three years at Croke Park yesterday.

It was the gallant sense of adventure of the losers Ballina, however, which made this a game to remember. It was error-strewn and nervy stuff for much of the hour, but the athletic optimism of the westerners kept the 40,106 in a state of white-knuckle tension throughout.

It took a late point from their captain, John McEntee, to secure the Andy Merigan Cup as Crossmaglen struggled to find the spangled patterns which have made them such formidable operators in this grade.

Ballina had 16 wides and managed to lose by a point, the sort of statistic that makes players wake up in a cold sweat long after they have retired.

Crossmaglen were held to their lowest score of this entire championship campaign as Ballina threw bodies behind the ball again and again. A little more self-assurance in front of goal by the westerners and the trip home last night would have been a deal merrier.

The opening quarter was a rap on the knuckles for the massed ranks of pundits who had suggested that Ballina should take in the parade in the capital to make the day in some way worthwhile. With Ger Brady cutting a dash as third midfielder, and with Liam McHale looking unprecedentedly lean and eager, Ballina had it pretty much as they wanted it for a while.

They chalked up five scores without reply before the 15th minute, fattening that statistic with the usual generous trimming of wides. Crossmaglen, for their part, looked like last year's model. Colm O'Neill moved, as usual, to midfield, leaving a two-man forward line which ached for some service.

Ballina flicked and weaved decoratively, neck-lacing long sequences of short passes together as the northerners hankered after their form. Denis Coen, Ger Brady and Liam McHale had points from play to supplement two early frees.

A swaying, sexy drumbeat issued from Hill 16 and the sun shone defiantly, making dancing shadows on the pitch. It seemed for a while as if we were in a parallel universe.

Typical of the tide in the affairs of Crossmaglen was the cameo in 19 minutes when first Cathal Short and then Jim McConville had shots blocked down as they looked for their side's first score.

Finally Oisin McConville pointed a free and two more scores followed as Crossmaglen's patient foraging began to pay off.

The half almost ended in chaos for Ballina. Crossmaglen, now pressing eagerly, were denied substantial reward when Jim McConville sent a daisy-cutter pass across the goal and John McEntee's shot was blocked in desperation by Kenny Golden.

Ballina survived though, and got to half-time with two points as a buffer.

The second half began much as the first had with Ballina effecting an unlikely swagger. The Bradys, Ger and David, had early points to stretch the lead to four points once more. If only that early assuredness could have been preserved.

Doggedly, Crossmaglen worked their way back into the game. Yesterday's was perhaps their least convincing performance in their two championship-winning seasons, but from memory they did enough good things to steer them home.

Oisin McConville as usual shouldered his weight and then some. He was responsible for two-thirds of his team's scores on one of those rare afternoons when Anthony Cunningham and John McEntee in midfield were limited to just one point.

Ballina may ponder for a long time their caution at times when the game was there for the taking. Their game plan was based on adequate midfield supply and a defensive tactic of getting men back behind the ball as quickly as possible. Often when they won possession the ball was delivered to a full forward line which was busy still getting back ball-side.

Still, they contributed wonderfully. Liam McHale has seldom played better. Beside him, David Brady had some fine moments and young Ger Brady provided a fizz which we would expect to see on the inter-county scene later this summer.

As the second half ground on Ballina's fate began to look more likely than the scoreboard suggested. With 13 minutes left Oisin McConville hoisted a fine point to level the game for the first time.

Ballina, who had taken off their entire half forward line and two place-kickers in the space of two minutes, had one last kick in them and substitute Cathal Deacy put them ahead again.

It was a brief glimpse at nirvana though. Oisin McConville slotted a free 60 seconds later, and with two minutes to go John McEntee gained possession after a hopped ball on the Ballina 50. He clipped it over for the winning point.

Crossmaglen Rangers: P Hearty; M Califf, D Murtagh, C Dooley; F Shields, F Bellew, J Fitzpatrick; J McEntee (capt) (0-1), A Cunningham; C Short, T McEntee, O McConville (0-6, four frees); J McConville (0-1), G Cumiskey (0-1), C O'Neill. Subs: G McShane for C O'Neill (45 mins), M Moley for M Califf (45 mins).

Ballina: J Healy; K Golden, J Devenney, D Leydon; R Ruane, B Heffernan (capt), S Sweeney; L McHale (0-1), D Brady (0-1); B McStay (0-1), D Coen (0-1), M McGrath (0-1); G Brady (0-2), P McGarry, K Lynn. Subs: L Brady for M McGrath (48 mins), C Deacy (0-1) for D Coen (48 mins), P McStay for B McStay (50 mins).

Referee: J Bannon (Longford).