The Mayo News

FOOTBALL In some ways, Sunday’s game between Crossmolina and Ballaghaderreen was won before a ball was kicked on Sunday. Champions lose their crown


Quarter final
Crossmolina0-11
Ballagh’0-8

Mike Finnerty
Castlebar

IN some ways this game was won before a ball was kicked last Sunday afternoon at McHale Park. Crossmolina’s management team had painstakingly done their homework on the county champions; analysed and disected Ballagh’s individual and collective characteristics.
And because John Maughan has a very special group of footballers at his disposal, Crossmolina were able to put their theories into practice. This ability to execute the game-plan is one of the main reasons why the championship specialists are back in yet another semi-final. That, and their inherent ability to motivate and organise themselves time and time again.
Battle-hardened warriors like James Nallen and Joe Keane were imperious once more while Ciaran McDonald, as always, mixed the sublime with the outrageous. Relative newcomers like Ronan Rochford, Joe Keane (the defender) and Michael Gallagher also continued their apprenticeships impressively.
But Ballaghaderreen didn’t leave the stage quietly. To their credit, despite some of their key men being off-form and others simply marked out of the game, the defending champions almost earned themselves a second shot at keeping their title.
Three minutes of injury-time had elapsed when Andy Moran (who was shadowed relentlessly for most of the game by James Nallen) drop-kicked a 20m free off the underside of the crossbar. The ball then spun downward, striking one of a cluster of Crossmolina defenders, before Nallen clawed it away to safety. The final whistle blew moments later.
It was that close in the end, although there can be no disputing that the better team won. Crossmolina stuck to their tried and trusted principles and their experience, cuteness and football acumen carried them through. Once Ballagh’ failed to hit the net, they were going to struggle to carve out enough scores to beat their fierce rivals. A string of second half wides didn’t help either.
Crossmolina shaded a very tactical first half and led by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. Playing against the wind, Ballagh’ had made the early running and two sweet points from Barry Regan (one off either boot) left them ahead after eleven minutes.
The Deel Rovers were playing with substance and style though and a string of four points in eight minutes from Ciaran McDonald (free), Joe Keane, Peadar Gardiner and Brian Benson eased them into a 0-5 to 0-2 lead.
With Andy Moran struggling for oxygen, a couple of Barry Regan frees were all Ballagh’ could manage before the interval. In fact, a lot of good work being done by the Drake and Kilcullen brothers wasn’t being rewarded on the scoreboard.
There was a sense that it was going to be one of those days when Ciaran McDonald drilled a trademark point from the left wing with the outside of his left boot on 27 minutes.
Messrs Maughan, Rochford and Mulligan slotted Peadar Gardiner back to his customary wing-back role on the restart and James Cafferty joined the fray at midfield. It was all very seamless.
Brian Benson tacked on a free to open up a three-point cushion before Ballagh’ opened their shoulders for the first time. With James Kilcullen powering them from centre-field, the holders nailed three points in quick succession, two from Andy Moran who finally found his form.
The sides were now level (0-7 apiece) with over twenty minutes left and the game was there for the taking. Predictably, Crossmolina went and took it. Their defence shut up shop and conceded just one more score to Andy Moran before the end.
Their attack nailed four points; Brian Benson slotting two frees with precision and Michael Gallagher and Ciaran McDonald (free) also on target. It was all very efficient and, like much of their good work, came from years of practice.
Their full-back line coped comfortably with Ballagh’s surprising (and persistent) aerial bombardment and were also fortunate on occasion that Andy Moran’s radar was faulty in the closing stages. Ironically, the All Star nominee still very nearly saved Ballagh’s day but it just wasn’t meant to be.

CROSSMOLINA
C Reilly; R Rochford, T Nallen, J Nallen; J Keane, M Leonard, D Keating; G Walsh, P Gardiner (0-1); E Lavelle, J Keane (0-1), B Benson (0-5, 4fs); C Carolan, C McDonald (0-3, 2fs), S Kelly. Subs used: J Cafferty for Keating; M Gallagher (0-1) for Lavelle; I Rowland for Carolan.

BALLAGHADERREEN
O Flanagan; S Drake, D Kilcullen, N Tuohy; D McGarry, T Regan, D Drake; J Kilcullen, B Kelly; B Solan, R McGrath, A Hanley; A Moran (0-3), B Regan (0-5, 3fs), P Kelly. Subs used: J Dillon for P Kelly; M Solan for Hanley.

Referee: D Harrington (Tourmakeady)

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