The defending champions entered the match with plenty of big-game experience thanks to the memory of the 2007 triumph still fresh in the minds of the majority of this year's panel.

The Division One-based St Malachy's players pushed clear at the break by 1-10 to 0-2 but had to work hard to protect the advantage over the second half.

St Malachy's will now take on Ballela of Down in the Ulster Championship quarter-final this weekend.

"The Ballela match will be a test for us," said St Malachy's Vincent McAleenan. "We entered the season with two main goals, one was to win the county prize and the other to take the Ulster title.

"We can go into Sunday's match full of confidence and a large crowd is expected in Lurgan's Davitt Park.

"We worked hard during the preparations for the county programme and I consider this year's championship to be a tougher standard than last season.

"The players must now move up from junior level but to have won the county trophy over consecutive years is a wonderful way to sign off.

"Against Craobh Rua they received a boost as we suffered a sending off and played most of the second half with 14 men.

"However, we never lost the lead and that is a testament to the dedication put in by the lads.

"Tom McStravick and his backroom staff worked extremely hard to prepare the players and that commitment resulted in a wonderful reward.

"We have an average age in the squad of about 23 or 24 years old and most have been together for over a decade so that creates a superb team spirit."

The St Malachy's squad is as follows: Ciaran Mulholland, Jimmy Halliday, Leon Reynolds (captain), Paul McConville, Ryan Sands, Michael McGuigan junior, Stefan Gorman, Declan Cusack, Joseph McKeever, Ciaran Hamill, Shay McStravick, Kevin Quinn, Peter Cardwell, Chris Johnston, Stefan McStravick, Michael McGuigan senior, Jamie McAleenan, Gavan Preshur, Ciaran Preshur, Peter Gorman, Conor Quinn, Fergal Beattie, Shane Elliott, Liam Cullen, John McGuigan.