Covies conquer Cross’ in club classic
Colm Moran gets ready to offload possession for Westport as Crossmolina corner-back Seán Óg McGuinness applies the pressure. Picture: Kim Robertson/Westport GAA
Regardless of their allegiances, the 4,000 or so who flocked to Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown on Saturday evening owe a debt of gratitude to both these teams for throwing up one of the most exceptional games of club championship football they are ever likely to see.
Both teams produced high-quality football, individual brilliance, and demonstrated reserves of character to create levels of drama and excitement that had every spectator on edge from pillar to post.
In the end, after 90 or so minutes, it was Crossmolina who were the vanquished and Westport who march into their first county final since 2022.
We’re not sure Westport ever played as well as they did on Saturday night – and that is a testament to what Crossmolina brought.
The sides were level on twelve occasions here and both teams looked like they were on their way out at different stages. In the end, it was Westport who found something special late in the second-half of extra-time, hitting the game’s last four scores.
The opening seven minutes of the game set the tone for what was to come.
Inside the very first minute, Conor Loftus and Kobe McDonald (the first of ten) pointed and it was clear Cross’ were here to play.
But Westport, whose ability to win primary possession was a crucial weapon, showed their intent in no uncertain terms, taking a 0-5 to 0-2 lead by the seventh minute.
Colm Moran, a late change for Kevin Keane, proved to be a vital outlet inside for the Covies. He had a shot at goal superbly blocked by Dylan Flynn but it was brought back for a free which Killian Kilkelly pointed. Moran was then fouled for a Conal Dawson conversion, Luke Tunney hoisted over a fine two-pointer and Joey Holmes hit a goal chance over.
Two more exceptional points from Kobe McDonald (if you haven’t seen the game, we recommend you watch back on Mayo GAA TV for his display alone) brought Crossmolina back to within one and they could have led but for a fine save by Paddy O’Malley from a Dylan Flynn shot.
The All-Ireland intermediate champions led 0-8 to 0-7 at the break. Two classy points from Colm Moran either side of a James Maheady free (for a foul on McDonald) had Westport two clear but Cross’ got the last three points of the half from Dylan Flynn, Maheady (free) and McDonald, the very last kick of the half, before the players and spectators alike tried to catch their breath.
The second-half gave us even more drama and suspense.
Conal Dawson (after one of several exceptional Eoghan McLaughlin turnovers) and Killian Kilkelly put Westport back in front. Niall Coggins equalised before Crossmolina were awarded a penalty after Kobe McDonald was fouled.
Conor Loftus, whose penalty in January won the All-Ireland intermediate title for his club, saw the crossbar get in the way as the ball flew back out the field.
Cross’ looked a bit rattled afterwards and Westport kicked four of the next five points. Killian Kilkelly, after great work from Colm Moran, Finbar McLaughlin, the lively Joey Holmes, after a long ball in by excellent midfielder Brian O’Malley, and Moran all pointed, with the sole reply of Cross’ coming from substitute Fionán Duffy, less than a minute after he came on.
It looked like daylight might be opening up but more fool those of us who thought that.
49 minutes in, a James Maheady shot fell short into the arms of Paddy O’Malley but as he was coming out, Cross’ full-back Kevin Mulhern stripped the ball from him. Niall Coggins picked up the loose ball and fed Mulhern who finished to the net. Level game again.
Westport’s response was instant and significant. They won the next kick-out and Finbar McLaughlin sent another long-ball into Joey Holmes, who was fouled. Penalty. Killian Kilkelly showed no sign of nerves with a composed finish.
Crossmolina looked in real trouble now but when the need was greatest, the youngest player on the pitch stood up.
Kobe McDonald kicked a ’45 followed by a point from play and then an equaliser for the ages in the 60th minute. Picking the ball up in front of the stand on the right wing, 60 metres from goal, he showed his blinding pace to run 50 metres right through the Westport defence, leaving Rory Brickenden in his wake, and fisting over. The kid is something special.
Crossmolina were in front in injury time thanks to a Maheady point, though Westport have grounds for complaint that Ben Doyle was fouled in the build-up but the free was given against him.
On that basis alone, it was more than fair that they got an equaliser – Kilkelly again showing his composure, converting a tricky free after Holmes was fouled.
There was one more Crossmolina attack but a two-point effort from Kobe McDonald trailed wide and to extra-time we went.
An impressive two-pointer free from Conal Dawson, brought forward because of dissent, seemed a big score but Kobe McDonald had other ideas, converting an otherworldly free from 55 metres out on the right wing.
Diarmuid Coggins and Killian Kilkelly exchanged points before points from Seán Óg McGuinness and McDonald, a free, had Cross’ two clear. By this stage Kevin Keane had been introduced for Colm Moran. Keane was fouled for a two-point free and while Conal Dawson’s effort fell short, Crossmolina failed to clear their lines and Killian Kilkelly pointed superbly to leave Cross’ 1-19 to 1-18 in front at half-time.
Tom Lambert levelled the game from a Kevin Keane assist eighteen seconds after the resumption and while Dylan Flynn, superb throughout, kicked Cross’ back in front shortly after, it would be their last score.
Sub Diarmuid Walsh kicked wide from a good position but Westport took over around the middle with Lee Keegan, Brian O’Malley and Eoghan McLaughlin driving them forward and their side’s fitness and athleticism apparent.
Keane had kicked wide off his right foot but he backed himself with three minutes left to kick over superbly off his left from the right-hand edge of the arc. Level game.
Brian O’Malley won the next kick-out and Westport worked the ball to Keane, just inside the arc, from a more central and far more straightforward position. His aim was true and Westport were in front with one minute left. They finished the game on the front foot, Pat Lambert fisting over a goal chance and Paddy O’Malley coming forward to jubilantly convert a two-point free.
Four points was the biggest gap of the day and not a true reflection of the closeness of proceedings, but Westport had finished with a flourish to triumph in a Mayo club classic that those of us who were fortunate to be present won’t be forgetting in a hurry.
Scorers – Westport: Killian Kilkelly 1-0-6 (1-0pen, 2f), Conal Dawson 0-1-2 (1tpf, 1f), Colm Moran 0-0-3, Paddy O’Malley (1tpf) and Luke Tunney 0-1-0 each, Kevin Keane and Joey Holmes 0-0-2 each, Finbar McLaughlin, Tom Lambert and Pat Lambert 0-0-1 each.
Crossmolina: Kobe McDonald 0-1-8 (1tpf, 1f, 1 ’45), Kevin Mulhern 1-0-0, James Maheady 0-0-3 (2f), Dylan Flynn 0-0-2, Seán Óg McGuinness, Conor Loftus, Niall Coggins, Diarmuid Coggins, Fionán Duffy 0-0-1 each.
Westport: Paddy O’Malley; Ben Doyle, Brian McDermott, Niall McManamon; Eoghan McLaughlin, Rory Brickenden, Lorcan Silke; Lee Keegan, Brian McDermott; Conal Dawson, Joey Holmes, Luke Tunney; Finbar McLaughlin, Killian Kilkelly, Colm Moran. Subs: Conor Calvey (for Tunney 46), Tom Lambert (for Silke ft), Kevin Keane (for Moran 68), Pat Lambert (for Kilkelly h/t e/t, inj), Leon Askin (for McManamon 75).
Crossmolina: Patrick Loftus; Seán Óg McGuinness, Kevin Mulhern, Matthew Gordetskyy; Aaron Coggins, Conor Loftus, Josh Moyles; Jordan Flynn, Patrick Leddy; Dylan Flynn, Kobe McDonald, Niall Coggins; James Maheady, Oisín Deane, Diarmuid Coggins. Subs: Fionán Duffy (for Leddy 42), Darragh Syron (for N Coggins 53), N Coggins (for Deane h/t e/t), Diarmuid Walsh (for Maheady 75, inj).
REF: John Glavey (Aghamore)
