TF Royal Hotel and Theatre Mayo SFC - 1/4 Final
CROSSMOLINA 0-11 BALLAGHADERREEN 0-8
THE situation that presented itself to Ballaghaderreen’s Andy Moran was not one unfamiliar to the opposition, Crossmolina Deel Rovers. The second half had entered its third minute of injury time when Moran stood over a 13 metre free in front of the posts, his team three points in arrears. But where Rovers had, in previous years, freed themselves from jail thanks to last minute goals worked from similar close in frees, fortune favoured not the Ballagh’ boys last Sunday, as Moran’s thunderous shot struck the underside of the crossbar, deflected off a Crossmolina player, bounced dangerously close to Colm Reilly’s goal-line and was eventually carried clear by the veteran, James Nallen, to the sound of referee Denis Harrington’s full-time whistle.
The reigning champions, for whom only Barry Regan and Andy Moran scored, surrendered their crown by scoring just one point in the final 26 minutes of play, kicking a series of third quarter wides at a time when, wind-assisted, the tide seemed to be turning in their favour. The presence of AFL Rookie Pearce Hanley, recently returned from Australia, might have boosted Ballaghaderreen morale pre-match, but his only duty was the distribution of water, and Cross-molina benefited greatly from his non playing involvement.
The winners trailed only once, after 11 minutes, when Barry Regan twice slipped inside Tom Nallen to fire over in response to Brian Benson’s match-opening free.
Four points on the spin, from Ciaran McDonald, a free, Joe Keane, Peadar Gardiner and Brian Benson, moved Crossmolina three points in front by the 25th minute, but that lead was reduced marginally by half-time, 0-6 to 0-4, when Barry Regan kicked over a pair of frees either side of a superb McDonald point from the left wing.
Ballagh’, however, despite shorn the services of injured captain Gary Conway, could have been even closer, if not in front, of the North Mayo outfit; Andy Moran had cut inside James Nallen after just three minutes but shot straight at goalkeeper Colm Reilly, and Barry Regan uncharacteristically curled the easiest of frees wide of the target.
You expected big things from Ballaghaderreen in the second half though, especially with David Kilcullen proving an effective marker of Cross’ full-forward Ciaran McDonald, David Drake launching countless attacks from wing-back and James Kilcullen edging his fine midfield battle with Gabriel Walsh.
Sure enough, the East Mayo side exploded into life soon after the restart, even if a Benson free first nudged Crossmolina three points clear. The teams were level by the 37th minute thanks to a Regan free and two Moran points, however, Moran also kicked four of the six wides that Ballaghaderreen had racked up in the first 14 minutes of the half, a costly amount considering Brian Benson, two frees, and substitute Michael
Gallagher restored Cross-molina’s three points lead, 0-10 to 0-7, by the 53rd minute. The endless attacking spurts of Joe Keane allied with the solid defensive presence of centre-back Mark Leonard, were key factors to Crossmolina maintaining their advantage whilst facing into a stiff breeze. However, when Andy Moran, opting for a point when a half chance at goal presented itself, and Ciaran McDonald, a free, swapped scores, that kept the game on a knife edge entering injury time, with Moran’s last gasp rasper almost forcing a replay.
SCORERS - Crossmolina: Brian Benson 0-5 (4f), Ciaran McDonald 0-3 (2f), Peadar Gardiner, Joe Keane and Michael Gallagher 0-1 each. Ballaghaderreen: Barry Regab 0-5 (3f), Andy Moran 0-3.
CROSSMOLINA: Colm Reilly; James Nallen, Tom Nallen, Ronan Rochford; Joe Keane, Mark Leonard, Declan Keating; Gabriel Walsh, Peadar Gardiner; Enda Lavelle, Joe Keane, Cathal Carolan; Sean Kelly, Ciaran McDonald, Brian Benson. Subs: James Cafferty (for Keating h/t), Michael Gallagher (for Lavelle 44), Ian Rowland (for Carolan 53).
Noel Tuohy; Declan McGarry, Thomas Regan, David Drake; James Kilcullen, Ronan McGrath; Barry Solan, Barry Kelly, Andy Hanley; Andy Moran, Barry Regan, Peter Kelly.
Subs: Joe Dillon (for P Kelly 46), Michael Solan (for Hanley 50).
Referee: Denis Harrington (Tourmakeady)
