Flynn goal helps Rovers make flying start
Kobe McDonald rose so high above Jason Gibbons that he climbed straight out of photographer Tom Quinn's spectacular shot of this midfield duel during Crossmolina's victory over home side Ballintubber last Saturday evening.
The new rules are well and truly in but as the seconds ticked away in Clogher, the old habits of Ballintubber looked like seeing them over the line in this Mayo SFL opener.
All routes and paths looked shut as Crossmolina Deel Rovers went one way and then another to try and work the score needed to snatch a draw. The Mayo, Connacht and All-Ireland Club intermediate champions, however, have a tendency for late dramatics and as Kobe McDonald made a charge through, he was brought down. The referee Christopher Burke, waved play on, and a quick move put in another of last year’s Mayo minors, Dylan Flynn, who found the net to secure a two points win for Brian Benson’s side – last year’s Division 2 title winners.
Eight of the players who started for Crossmolina in the All-Ireland final back in January were here for this contest, while two substitutes on the day, Patrick Loftus and Cillian Fergus, took the places of the injured JP Mulhern and Darragh Syron.
The remainder of the starting lineup had five of Crossmolina’s brightest prospects – and members of the 2024 Mayo minors – involved, in Sean Og McGuinness, Josh Moyles, Dylan Flynn, Oisin Deane and Kobe McDonald, and it was the latter who opened the scoring inside 20 seconds with a now trademark burst through the centre.
Stephen Burke responded for the hosts before Fionan Duffy got his first point of the day on five minutes. Ballintubber, who lost both Jack Prendergast and Ethan Lyons to injury in the opening quarter, pointed through both Ciaran Gavin, a free, and Jason Gibbons, only for Oisin Deane to draw the visitors level before Fionan Duffy converted a two-point free to send Crossmolina back in front.
Ballintubber would find the net at the start of the second quarter as slack defending from Crossmolina was punished by Noel Geraghty, who shot across Patrick Loftus to raise the green flag. However, that would be Ballintubber’s last score of the first-half as Crossmolina hit the last three of the half, through Fionan Duffy and two from James Maheady, which saw them take a 0-8 to 1-3 lead into the dressing-room. It was a lead that probably should have been greater given they had also struck six first-half wides.
The five-time Moclair Cup champions were back level going into the last ten minutes of the game, as Crossmolina continued to fluff their lines. Two points from Ciaran Gavin and one each from Bryan Walsh and Josh Mahon countered responses from Maheady, a two pointer, and McDonald, while Diarmuid Fox and Mikie Loftus saw goal chances go astray.
Two points from Cillian O’Connor looked like the intermediate champions were going to be taught a lesson by their experienced counterparts but Conor Caden and Flynn’s late salvo earned Crossmolina the win.
Up next for the Deel Rovers is a home game against Garrymore while Ballintubber make the short trip south to face Hollymount-Carramore.
Scorers – Crossmolina: Fionan Duffy 0-1-2 (1tpf), James Maheady 0-0-4, Dylan Flynn 1-0-0, Kobe McDonald 0-0-2, Oisin Deane and Conor Caden 0-0-1 each.
Ballintubber: Noel Geraghty 1-0-0, Ciaran Gavin 0-1-2 (1tpf, 1f), Cillian O’Connor 0-0-2 (1f), Stephen Burke, Jason Gibbons, Bryan Walsh and Josh Mahon 0-0-1 each.
Ballintubber: Brendan Walsh Gavin Murphy, Joe Geraghty, Finian Burke; Stephen Burke, Gary Loftus, Ethan Lyons; Jaso Gibbons, Jack Prendergast; Michael Plunkett, Cillian O’Connor, David McHale; Ciaran Gavin, Josh Mahon, Noel Geraghty. Subs: Bryan Walsh (for Prendergast 2, inj), Jack Walsh (for Lyons 14, inj), John Kerrigan (for McHale 44), Martin Fox (for J Geraghty 52).
Crossmolina: Patrick Loftus; Diarmuid Fox, Matthew Gordetskyy, Sean Óg McGuinness; Mikie Loftus, Kevin Mulhern, Diarmuid Coggins; Josh Moyles, Cillian Fergus; Kobe McDonald, James Maheady, Dylan Flynn; Diarmaid Walsh, Oisin Deane, Fionan Duffy. Subs: Conor Caden (for Walsh 22, inj), Keelan Hegarty (for Duffy 52).
REF: Christopher Burke (Hollymount-Carramore)
