A hard-fought battle in Pairc Esler saw Errigal Ciarán book an Ulster Championship Final meeting with Kilcoo in a couple of weeks by the skin of their teeth.
Ruairi Canavan was the star of the show for the Tyrone champions, with a nine point tally including the winner at the death.
Clann Eireann’s cause wasn’t helped when All-Ireland Armagh medal winner Tiernan Kelly was dismissed early in the second-half but, regardless, the match remained on a knife-edge until the very end.
It was a cagey start to the game with Kelly’s Armagh team-mate Conor Turbitt setting him up for the opening point for Clann Eireann.
Ruairi Canavan replied in kind and the sides were level at 0-3 each after 12 minutes.
Clann Eireann nabbed the next two scores but on 22 minutes the game really began to come to life.
A delay in play ensued when Kelly picked up his first yellow card and Clann Eireann’s Sean McCarthy hobbled off injured and straight after the restart Errigal Ciarán scored three quickfire points from Ruairi and Darragh Canavan to take the lead for the first time 0-6 to 0-5.
It looked like that might be the start of something for the Tyrone champions but on 26 minutes Clann Eireann almost had the ball in the net when Turbitt’s pointed effort hit the post and dropped to Daniel Magee goal.
His shot was well saved by the keeper but the pace of the game had increased, and at the start of stoppage time a terrific long ball was played in by Emmett Magee to Daniel Magee, who was fouled by Ciaran Quinn for a penalty that Turbitt slotted low into the left hand corner.
Ruairi Canavan replied with a couple of frees however, the second a monster shot from beyond the ’45, to level proceedings 1-5 to 0-8 at the short whistle.
Daniel Magee, Ruairi McDonald and Turbitt put the Armagh side into a three-point lead again after the restart but on 40 minutes they were reduced to 13 men when Kelly picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Darragh Canavan.
A brace of points from Thomas Canavan and a point off the post from Ruairi Canavan saw the sides level again 1-8 to 0-11 as the final quarter began.
The battle really heated up at the finish but Ruairi Canavan was the star of the show for Errigal with three of the last four points in normal time.
Eoghan Meehan levelled in stoppage time, keeping the punters on the edge of their seats, but Canavan had the last word with the winning point.
Scorers – Clann Eireann: T Kelly (0-1), C McConville (0-1), C Turbitt (1,2, 1P,2f), D McCarthy (0-2), D Magee (0-2), R McDonald (0-1), R Meehan (0-1)
Errigal Ciarán: R Canavan (0-9,4f), O Robinson (0-1), D Canavan (0-2,1f), T Canavan (0-2,2f)
Clann Eireann: E Mulholland; S Heffron, M O’Shea, C O’Carroll; B McCambridge, S McCarthy, R French; T Kelly, C McConville; J Conlon, D Magee, E Magee; R McDonald, C Turbitt, D McCartney
Subs: A Kelly for McCarthy (21), R Meehan for McDonald (43), E McKenna for Conlon (57)
Errigal Ciarán: D McAanenly; N Kelly, B McDonnell, A McCrory; T Colhoun, C Quinn, P Og McCarthy; P McGirr, J Oguz; R Canavan, O Robinson, C McGinley; P Harte, D Canavan C Quinn
Subs: M Kavanagh for McGirr (27), T Canavan for McGinley (H-T), P Traynor for Kelly (57)
Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)