Defensive masterclass keeps Crossmolina's survival hopes alive

Elverys Sports Super League

Crossmolina 0

Westport United 0

Darragh Walsh at Kilmurry Pitch

Saturday evening saw Crossmolina and Westport share a point apiece in an entertaining scrap in Kilmurray. This result, a big contrast from the reverse fixture which saw Westport put 11 past Cross, saw the home side edge another point away from the drop zone as the Super League season begins to draw to a close.

Crossmolina had the first attempt on goal through Shane Hennigan following good work down the left wing from Richie Shelley. The aforementioned duo along with Darragh Duffy and Oisin Deane set a high press on the Westport backline all throughout the game forcing the visitors to often play long and direct.

Kevin Kitterick and Dylan O’Malley were central to Westport’s play when the visitors managed to play the ball through the lines, and it was Kitterick who provided for O’Malley’s first attempt with a tricky run down the left. O’Malley quickly returned the favour finding Kitterick behind the Crossmolina defence, but Niall McDonnell produced a fine save to deny the Westport winger.

Westport continued to create the majority of the chances throughout the second quarter of play and may have regretted not capitalising on one of their squandered chances.

Crossmolina returned to the field in the second half full of high pressing and showed that if the visitors were to find a breakthrough, it wasn’t going to be easy. Ian Gordon and Conor Cadden let their presence be known in their midfield battles as their front four continued to force errors from the Westport backline. Twelve minutes passed before Westport managed to create the first chance of the second half. Again, O’Malley played creator while Kitterick would be disappointed that he couldn’t apply the finishing touch.

This would be Westport’s penultimate chance as the Crossmolina defence really came into its own. The towering Stuart Griffin manned the arial battles while Deady swept anything low while the fullbacks of Michael Gill and Kevin Campbell began to nullify the wing threat of their opposition.

Crossmolina turned to their bench springing Aaron Coggins, Conal Carolan and Edward Gough to provide fresh energy to their draining high press. Westport continued to have chances but found no way past Crossmolina.

In the end a vital point was captured for Crossmolina as their bid to remain in the Super League for next season lives on.

Crossmolina: Niall McDonnell, Michael Gill, Stuart Griffin, Martin Deady, Kevin Campbell, Ian Gordon, Darragh Duffy, Conor Cadden, Oisin Deane, Shane Hennigan, Richie Shelley. Subs: Aaron Coggins (for Hennigan), Conal Carolan (for Caden), Edward Gough (for Shelley)

Westport United: Gary Cunnigham, Alex Halpin, Mark McDonagh, Aaron Cannon, Harrison Quinn, Dylan O’Malley, Caoimhin O’Toole, Cillian White, Cian Halpin, Kevin Kitterick, Adam Nugent. Subs: Evan Durkan (for Halpin, Jack Dawson for Nugent).

Ref: Eric Eaton