Ard’ luck for Sarsfields as Rovers ‘rain’ supreme

Abbvie Mayo SFL Division 2 – Final 

Crossmolina 1-14 

Ardnaree Sarsfields 0-12 

Anthony Hennigan in James Stephens Park, Ballina 

Scoring 1-3 without reply before half-time is ultimately what steered Crossmolina Deel Rovers to victory over their North Mayo rivals Ardnaree Sarsfields in Sunday’s Division 2 final. The barely imaginable conditions for August Bank Holiday weekend – it was as though James Stephens Park had transformed into a washing machine – didn’t prevent the two teams from serving up a thoroughly enjoyable contest, which was played in front of a large and vocal attendance. If anything, the driving wind and rain and soap-like handling simply added to the drama.

Ardnaree Sarsfields might have lost by five points but actually outscored their opponents by two points in the second-half, signifying the importance of Crossmolina’s very strong finish to the opening 30 minutes – even if there was a huge slice of good fortune to James Maheady’s 23rd minute goal.

The 2022 Mayo minor attempted to score a point but with the 20-metre kick dropping short, Ardnaree goalkeeper Blaine Ginty had the misfortune of slipping in the treacherous underfoot conditions and could only watch in despair as the ball sailed over his head and into the net. Followed by a trio of points by Fionan Duffy, including two from frees, the Deel Rovers had gone from being one point ahead to seven, 1-7 to 0-3, in the space of seven minutes.

The winners, who were without county players Jordan Flynn and Conor Loftus, had taken an early lead through points by Niall Coggins and Diarmaid Walsh, but the game was made all-square by a converted ’45 from Adam Parsons and a delightful point by the experienced Eoin McCormack. Seaghan Duffy, from a free, missed an excellent opportunity to send Ardnaree in front on the quarter hour, but when his effort clipped the post, Crossmolina moved up the field where James Maheady pointed to restore a lead that his team never surrendered.

Fionan Duffy’s opening point of the game doubled his side’s advantage and while a swift attack involving Liam Jones and Martin Rafter resulted in an excellent 20th minute point by John Timlin, that was the Moysiders’ final score of the half.

The irony to the Crossmolina goal three minutes later was that Brian Benson’s team had tried but failed to create a goal-scoring opportunity in the initial build-up, with Diarmuid Fox bottled up upon receiving a pass across the square from Patrick Leddy. Off the recycled ball, James Maheady appeared to be settling for a point until his mishit effort – and Blaine Ginty’s misfortune – put clear daylight between the teams, which was extended by Fionan Duffy’s three-in-a-row before the break.

The gap was increased to eight points, 1-8 to 0-3, inside a minute of the restart, as a dinked pass by Leddy saw Diarmaid Walsh score his second point, but we were about to see the best of Ardnaree Sarsfields from hereon.

Taking a pass from the hardworking Jack Regan, John Timlin kicked a superb point under pressure from the right wing, and that was added to by one from centre-back Adam Parsons in the 37th minute. Maheady hit a reply for the leaders but Ardnaree were growing in confidence and two more points from Timlin, including a beauty on the turn, and one by Seaghan Duffy, who blazed a goal chance over when teammate Parsons might first have taken on the shot, meant the arrears were down to four points by the 43rd minute.

A first point by eventual man-of-the-match Patrick Leddy, Crossmolina’s first in 12 minutes, interrupted Ardnaree’s good run, and the gap was pushed back out to six points when Diarmuid Coggins became the sixth of his side’s forwards to score from play, but their opponents weren’t in the mood for giving up, as Duffy, two, and Timlin, a free, hit three of the game’s next four points to leave four points the difference again, with eight minutes left on the clock.

Cavan native Leddy, a powerful lynchpin at full-forward, had scored his second point for the Deel men at this stage, and Fionan Duffy fired a quickfire brace, which quelled the resurgence of Rory Clarke’s side, for whom Seaghan Duffy’s 56th minute free offered a consolation point. But with promotion to Division 1 for 2025 already secured for both teams, this victory for Crossmolina was simply the icing on the cake.

Scorers – Crossmolina: Fionan Duffy 0-6 (3f), James Maheady 1-2, Diarmaid Walsh and Patrick Leddy 0-2 each, Niall Coggins and Diarmuid Coggins 0-1 each.

Ardnaree: John Timlin 0-5 (2f), Seaghan Duffy 0-4 (1f), Adam Parsons 0-2 (1 ’45), Eoin McCormack 0-1.

Crossmolina: JP Mulhern; Fearghal Duffy, Kevin Mulhern, Diarmuid Fox; Aaron Coggins, Cathal Carolan, Stephen Duffy; Darragh Syron, Cillian Fergus; Diarmuid Coggins, Fionan Duffy, Niall Coggins; James Maheady, Patrick Leddy, Diarmaid Walsh. Subs: Lorcan Loftus and Mikie Loftus (for Fox and S Duffy 39), David Howley (for Carolan 52), Danny McDonald and Edward Gough (for Fearghal Duffy and Walsh 60).

Ardnaree: Blaine Ginty; Kevin Gillespie, Pat Mills, Mark Forbes; Liam Jones, Adam Parsons, Jack Regan; Ronan O’Malley, Seaghan Duffy; John Timlin, Cian Burke, Martin Rafter; Alan Flannery, Eoin McCormack, Shane Timlin. Subs: Noelie Beattie (for McCormack 47), Fiachra Mahoney (for Flannery 51).

REF: Garryowen McMahon (Davitts)