Crossmolina strike late to inflict defeat on misfiring Mitchels
Patrick Leddy was among the scorers for Crossmolina Deel Rovers in their AbbVie Mayo SFL win over Castlebar Mitchels. Picture: David Farrell Photography
An injury-time point by Diarmuid Coggins secured a third straight Mayo SFL Division 1 win for Crossmolina Deel Rovers last Saturday evening.
It did not appear that was the going to be the final outcome as the sides were level on eight occasions in total, six times from the 43rd minute on. Despite the home side shooting ten wides in the game, Mitchels – or more specifically Neil Douglas and Ethan Gibbons – brought them back in contention as the pair struck 1-7 between them.
A two-point free from Douglas put them in a point ahead on 57 minutes, and only a minute before that had Crossmolina a big goal opportunity to put the game away only for Oisin Deane to see his effort saved and Adam Mills see his rebound come back off the bar, but Crossmolina would score three of the last four points for what could be an important win with four rounds to play.
The frantic ending contrasted with the start of the contest as both sides struggled in front of the posts. The veteran Douglas got the opening score of the game on seven minutes, while Crossmolina opened their account three minutes later via a James Maheady free.
The men from the Deel opened a three-point gap by the end of the first quarter thanks to a point from Cathal Carolan and a two-point free from Maheady.
Mitchels restored parity through efforts from Anthony O’Boyle and James Durcan, but Maheady would convert three of the next four scores, two from placed balls, to put them two in front.
That gap would remain at two at the break as efforts from Shane Cunningham, a mark, and Cian Walsh, a free, were matched by singles from Niall Coggins and Maheady to leave 0-9 to 0-7 in favour of last year’s Division 1A runners-up.
Crossmolina doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half thanks to Sean Óg McGuinness and a two-point effort from Cillian Fergus, with the sole response in that period for Mitchels an Ethan Gibbons free.
Mitchels were awarded a lifeline on 38 minutes when they were awarded a penalty after Cian Walsh was brought down. The penalty from Douglas was too central and was saved by Patrick Loftus, but the Crossmolina goalkeeper parried it back into the path of the veteran and he tapped it into the net.
Crossmolina almost responded with a goal of their own on 43 minutes as Niall Coggins held off two challenges before playing in Maheady, only to see his shot smothered by Rory Byrne. In response, Douglas drew Mitchels back level once again.
Carolan restored the lead for the maroon and white only for Durcan to restore parity again with his third point as the game entered the final quarter, and the tension was only building from here.
A second Gibbons free nudged Mitchels back ahead but it appeared Crossmolina found a second wind with three points without reply through Patrick Leddy, Adam Mills and Maheady. Indeed, the latter’s point could have been more, but Oisin Deane saw his effort saved by Byrne and the rebound from Mills cannon back off the upright and into the path of Maheady, who ensured the move would not come to nothing.
Back came Mitchels again and a third free from Gibbons, which was brought to the 13-metre line after dissent, and a nerveless two-point free from Douglas edged Mitchels back ahead again with the clock ticking away.
Carolan and Dylan Flynn sent over what looked to be the winning scores at the end of normal time and while Gibbons levelled it one more time, Diarmuid Coggins came up with what would finally be the match-winning score in injury-time from Crossmolina.
Scorers - Crossmolina Deel Rovers: James Maheady 0-1-6 (1tpf, 3f), Cathal Carolan 0-0-3, Cillian Fergus 0-1-0, Niall Coggins, Sean Óg McGuinness, Patrick Leddy, Adam Mills, Dylan Flynn and Diarmuid Coggins 0-0-1 each.
Castlebar Mitchels: Neil Douglas 1-1-2 (1tpf), Ethan Gibbons 0-0-4 (3f), James Durcan 0-0-3, Anthony O’Boyle, Calum Filan (f), Shane Cunningham (m) and Cian Walsh (f) 0-0-1 each.
Crossmolina Deel Rovers: Patrick Loftus; Diarmuid Fox, Matthew Gordetskyy, Sean Óg McGuinness; Mikie Loftus, Aaron Coggins, Patrick McAndrew; Kevin Mulhern, Cillian Fergus; Dylan Flynn, Jonathan Murtagh, Niall Coggins; Cathal Carolan, James Maheady, Oisin Deane. Subs: Patrick Leddy (for Mulhern 26-inj), Diarmuid Coggins (for Murtagh h/t), Darragh Duffy (for M Loftus 43), Adam Mills (for McAndrew 48).
Castlebar Mitchels: Rory Byrne; Brian McDonnell, Johnny Maughan, Jack O’Reilly; Shane Cunningham, Fintan Borotto, Anthony O’Boyle; Ultan O’Reilly, Fergal Durkan; Conor Mulroy, Cian Walsh, James Durcan; Neil Douglas, Eoghan Hughes, Calum Filan. Subs: Ethan Gibbons (for Hughes h/t-inj), Ben Joyce (for Durkan 37), Steve Keane (for Filan 50), Joe Tuohy (for Borotto 53).
REF: Garryowen McMahon (Davitts).
