Slow start costs Knock’ men in northern derby
Crossmolina’s Diarmuid Coggins breaks away from Knockmore’s Keith Ruttledge. Coggins scored three points and Ruttledge two. Picture: David Farrell Photography
A fifth game unbeaten in six matches, and a fourth win in total, has seen Crossmolina Deel Rovers move to within a point of Division 1 table toppers Ballina Stephenites, after they got the better of the other of their big North Mayo rivals, Knockmore, on Friday evening.
After a sticky start to the season that saw them lose their first four matches, Knockmore had settled somewhat with back-to-back wins against Belmullet and Claremorris entering this clash with Rovers, but the writing looked on the wall for them here when they scored just one first-half point to trail by eight at half-time, despite the slight breeze having been at their backs.
Crossmolina were playing into the town end goal in the opening 30 minutes and they hit the ground running when points by Oisin Deane and James Maheady, two, including a free, sent them into an early three points lead. It was in the 10th minute that Peter Naughton scored Knockmore’s opening point but the reply by Crossmolina was to set the away side’s net bulging, with Oisin Deane finishing past goalkeeper Brian McMahon after some great team build-up.
The hosts were dominant at the stage and wing-back Diarmuid Coggins bombed forward to kick back-to-back points before Cillian Fergus lofted over a ’45 in the 19th minute, which left the Maroon and White in charge of a 1-6 to 0-1 advantage after 19 minutes. And that was how the scoreboard would remain at half-time too, after a totally uneventful – in a scoring sense, at least – final 10 or so minutes of first-half action.
Knockmore returned to the pitch with much more intent for the second-half and inside three minutes had reeled off three points, the first seeing Aiden Orme punish some sloppy Crossmolina defending before his colleague in the full-forward line, Keith Ruttledge, quicky tacked on back-to-back points.
Despite that bright start, the visitors had those three points wiped out when James Maheady curled over a two-point free for Crossmolina which was swiftly followed by a Diarmuid Coggins point, restoring the home side’s eight points lead, 1-9 to 0-4.
Knockmore, however, were about to enjoy their best period, as points arrived from Aiden Orme and Conor Flynn before a free was launched in that dropped dangerously in the Crossmolina goalmouth and bobbled about before being fisted over the bar by Peter Naughton. Connell Dempsey was then to strike over the first of his two-pointers and when Conor Flynn fired over his second point of the game, the gap between the teams was suddenly down to two points.
The experienced Cathal Carolan hit back with a single for Cross’ but home nerves were heightened when Dempsey nailed another two pointer, this one from a free, to leave just a single point between the teams, 1-10 to 0-12.
But with 10 minutes of the game left to play, Crossmolina awoke from their mid-game slumber to steal back the momentum.
Diarmuid Walsh managed to get his fist to a ball and direct over the bar while Dylan Flynn picked off a point also, and while Aiden Orme had pulled one point back in between, Crossmolina renewed their running game down the stretch and Knockmore struggled to contain the flow. The visitors conceded three frees all of which were sent over the bar by substitute Fionán Duffy to secure a five points win.
Scorers – Crossmolina: Oisin Deane 1-0-1, James Maheady 0-1-2 (tpf), Diarmuid Coggins and Fionán Duffy (3f) 0-0-3 each, Cillian Fergus (’45), Dylan Flynn, Cathal Carolan and Diarmuid Walsh 0-0-1 each.
Knockmore: Aiden Orme 0-0-3, Connell Dempsey 0-2-0 (1tpf), Keith Ruttledge and Conor Flynn 0-0-2 each, Peter Naughton 0-0-1.
Crossmolina: Patrick Loftus; Sean Og McGuinness, Kevin Mulhern, Matthew Gordetskyy; Mickie Loftus, Patrick McAndrew, Diarmuid Coggins; Paddy Leddy, Cillian Fergus; Jonathan Murtagh, Oisin Deane, Dylan Flynn; Adam Mills, James Maheady, Cathal Carolan. Subs: Diarmuid Walsh (for Mills), Fionán Duffy (for Carolan), Darragh Duffy (for D Coggins).
Knockmore: Brian McMahon; Nathan Armstrong, David McHale, Adam Battle; Declan Melvin, Lorcan Lang, Fergal Keane; Ryan Casey, Tadhg Staunton; Oliver Armstrong, Liam Durkan, Connell Dempsey; Aiden Orme, Peter Naughton, Keith Ruttledge. Subs: Darragh Staunton, Charlie Burke, Conor Flynn, Caolan Hopkins, Dylan Coleman.
REF: Jerome Henry (Castlebar)
