Crossmolina reach intermediate county final after tense extra-time tussle with Ballinrobe

MAYO INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

CROSSMOLINA 0-15 BALLINROBE 1-11

In Claremorris

“This is for Crossmolina.”

The words of Crossmolina manager Brian Benson, who had just watched his club reach their first county final since dropping down to Intermediate football.

In the end, it was James Maheady who kicked the winner in a game that hung on a knife edge throughout.

The sides were level five times before the game went to extra time in the dying light of windy Canon Gibbons Park.

The wind had a big bearing on a low-scoring first half, where Crossmolina pulled away with three unanswered points before the break to lead 0-6 1-2.

Ballinrobe were unfortunate to see several on-target point attempts pulled wide by the wind.

The influential Diarmuid Duffy was unlucky to see a shot at goal drag wide. However, Lady Luck was on Joe Burke's side when he tapped in a goal after Kevin Quinn's point attempt crashed off the upright.

Almost nothing separated the sides in the second half. But Crossmolina had chances to win it in injury time, but Fionán Duffy kicked a wide from play while goalkeeper JP Mulhern drove a ’45 off target.

Brian Benson’s men enjoyed a mini-purple patch in the first half of extra time, hitting three points from James Maheady (1 mark) and Fionán Duffy.

However, ‘Robe hit back after the water break with three of their own from Joe Burke (2) and Ewan Duffy before Maheady ended a swashbuckling move by fisting the winning point. 

A full report plus reaction will be carried in Tuesday’s Mayo News.