Rovers settle for second after stalemate with gutsy Gaels
Kobe McDonald on the attack for Crossmolina whose clash with Mayo Gaels attracted a large crowd to Charlestown last Sunday. Picture: INPHO/Bryan Keane
Crossmolina Deel Rovers snatched a last-minute point to secure a share of the spoils with Mayo Gaels in an enthralling third round clash held at a wet and very windy Fr O’Hara Park in Charlestown on Sunday afternoon.
It was a battle throughout between the two sides with the lead changing numerous times. The result was enough to see Crossmolina secure their place in the senior championship quarter-finals but find themselves having to make do with an away trip as second place finishers in their group.
It was nip and tuck throughout the game with Mayo Gaels, destined for a relegation playoff regardless of the outcome, getting off the mark with the first score after two minutes, off the boot of John Gallagher. From the resulting kickout, Kobe McDonald collected the ball and made a run through the Mayo Gaels defence to score his first point of the game.
McDonald was playing at the permission of AFL side St Kilda to whom he is due to return in November. His appearance no doubt contributed to the enormous attendance in Charlestown for this match.
Mayo Gaels responded when John Gallagher hit the first two pointer of the game into a strong swirling wind to give his side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after four minutes.
The lead was cut when James Maheady won a free after a high tackle from Ruairí Keane, with Maheady slotting over the black spot.
A minute later Mayo Gaels responded when David Quinn worked his way through the Crossmolina defence to score the first goal of the day and give his side a four-point advantage, 1-3 to 0-2.
Kobe McDonald was beginning to take control of midfield however, winning some impressive ball in the air. Cathal Carolan, who started the game in place of Kevin Mulhern, hit a fine two-pointer into a difficult wind, which didn’t favour either side, and the deficit was down to two.
John Gallagher responded immediately with a great point from play and while Conor Loftus made a great run through the Mayo Gaels defence and hit a strike on goal, goalkeeper Paul Mannion, one of three changes to the starting line-up, made his first of numerous impressive saves in the game. Crossmolina did keep the attack alive and Diarmuid Coggins slotted over. This was quickly followed by a Carolan point to reduce the gap to the minimum, 1-4 to 0-6.
Liam Hughes won a great turnover for Mayo Gaels before passing the ball to Andrew Quinn who went on a run and made light of the Crossmolina defence to hit his first score of the day. Crossmolina struck back with Diarmuid Walsh hitting his first point of the day to leave one between the sides.
Deel Rovers then hit a purple patch with Cathal Carolan, Diarmuid Walsh (two) and Oisín Deane raising four white flags without a response from Mayo Gaels to give Brian Benson’s side a 0-11 to 1-5 lead at half-time.
Gaels, however, were quick out of the blocks after the break with Andrew Quinn’s point leaving just two between the sides.
Mannion stopped another Loftus attempt on goal, pushing the ball out for a ’45 which Kobe McDonald slotted over to leave Crossmolina 0-12 to 1-6 in front.
Mayo Gaels replied emphatically though, as Quinn finished to the net following some good team play in the build-up, to leave the sides all square after 37 minutes, 0-12 to 2-6.
McDonald responded with a pointed free to give his side the narrowest of leads before the busy Paul Mannion pulled off two more great saves from shots by Jordan Flynn and Diarmuid Walsh to keep his side firmly in the game.
Flynn’s influence on the game was getting stronger as he battled for every ball, making a fantastic turnover at midfield and finding Conor Loftus who left a trail of Mayo Gaels players in his wake to raise the white flag and give Crossmolina a two-point lead, 0-14 to 2-6.
It became a battle between the two goalkeepers, with Patrick Loftus making one fine save and Mannion two more, to keep the attendance on tenterhooks. Eventually Mayo Gaels full-back Ruairí Keane came forward to raise white which was followed by an orange raised after Ethan Henry hit a monster of a two-pointer, to give the underdogs the lead once again, by the narrowest of margins, 2-9 to 0-14.
Crossmolina were working hard off the ball and the pressure paid off as they turned Gaels over and worked the ball through the lines before substitute Niall Coggins levelled proceedings with four minutes left in normal time.
Adam Gallagher thought he had clinched the winner when he slotted over a point in stoppage time. However, there was time for one more score and it was Jordan Flynn who popped up to find the equaliser and earn his side a share of the spoils.
Crossmolina will now travel to Garrymore in the last eight while Mayo Gaels face into a relegation playoff semi-final against neighbouring Balla for the latest in several championship showdowns between the teams in recent seasons.
Scorers – Crossmolina: Cathal Carolan 0-1-2, Kobe McDonald (1f, 1 ’45) and Diarmuid Walsh 0-0-3 each, James Maheady, Diarmuid Coggins, Conor Loftus, Niall Coggins, Oisín Deane and Jordan Flynn 0-0-1 each.
Mayo Gaels: Andrew Quinn 1-0-2, John Gallagher 0-1-2, David Quinn 1-0-0, Ethan Henry 0-1-0, Ruairí Keane and Adam Gallagher 0-0-1 each.
Crossmolina Deel Rovers: Patrick Loftus; Seán Óg McGuinness, Cathal Carolan, Matthew Gordetskyy; Mikie Loftus, Conor Loftus, Aaron Coggins; Jordan Flynn, Cillian Fergus; Dylan Flynn, Kobe McDonald, Diarmuid Coggins; Oisín Deane, James Maheady, Diarmuid Walsh. Subs: Fionan Duffy (for Carolan 44), Diarmuid Fox (for M Loftus 50), Niall Coggins (for Fergus 41).
Mayo Gaels: Paul Mannion; Alan Brennan, Ruairí Keane, Conor Burke; Ryan McGurrin, Liam Hughes, John Finn; Ethan Henry, Adam Gallagher; David Quinn, Jack Fallon, Andrew Quinn; Peter Gallagher, John Gallagher, Ronan Commons. Subs: Kevin Lynch (for Burke 46).
REF: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh)
