Clinical Crossmolina cut Westport down

Clinical Cross’ cut Westport down


SFC GROUP 1
Crossmolina 4-14
Westport 0-10

Colin McDonagh
Crossmolina

CROSSMOLINA produced a strong second-half performance to dispose of Westport at a sun-drenched St Tiernan’s Park on Saturday evening last.
The final scoreline doesn’t really do the visitors justice because at half-time the eventual winners only led by three points despite netting two goals.
But a scoring blitz from the Deel Rovers in the second half put TomΡs Tierney’s men well and truly to the sword.
Crossmolina might have suffered a scare against Garrymore in the opening round but they were boosted by the return of their influential play-maker Ciaran McDonald at midfield. The former county star didn’t disappoint and looked a class act as his side sailed to a 16-point success.
Westport began well despite falling behind to an early Brian Benson free. A Damien Keane free restored parity but Ciaran McDonald put his side in front before Keane added another free to balance the scoreline again.
However, two goals in the space of two minutes from James Cafferty and Cathal Carolan swung this encounter firmly in favour of Crossmolina. In truth, they never looked back after that, having established a six-point advantage with only 20 minutes on the clock.
Another free from Keane and a fine score from the left foot of Shane Scott kept Westport hot on the heels of John Maughan’s charges. But fine scores at the other end from McDonald and Benson maintained the home side’s six-point advantage.
However, Westport hit a purple patch just before the interval with excellent scores from wing back David Horan and Stephen Broderick.
After a strong Lee Keegan challenge led to a free in for Westport, Damien Keane again found his range to ensure that only a goal separated the two sides at half-time. Keegan, incidentally, had to be substituted in the second half with a slight groin injury.
Whatever Maughan said to his side must have worked as Westport only managed to score three points in the second half as Crossmolina ran riot at the other end.
Two points from the trustworthy boot of Benson and a fine score from centre half forward Joe Keane restored the six point advantage. Another point from Benson and an excellent score from Peadar Gardiner showed the home side’s superiority.
The game was effectively over on 50 minutes when Carolan added his second goal, burying the ball past the helpless Tom Higgins.
Westport failed to display the same drive they had shown in the first period, but kept the scoreboard ticking over with two points from Damien Keane.
However, it was only consolation at this stage with a further two points from Carolan and a fourth goal from substitute Derek Hegarty putting the game well and truly beyond Westport.
Higgins had produced a fine stop to deny Benson, but the ball fell to Hegarty, who had the simple task of slotting the ball home.
The West Mayo lads managed to get into double figures through a Scott free, but Crossmolina scored further points at the other end courtesy of Cafferty and excellent efforts from McDonald and Gardiner.
That sealed a comfortable win to make it two wins out of two in this year’s championship. Westport now meet Garrymore with the losers set for the relegation play-offs.

Crossmolina
C Reilly; J Keane, R Rochford, J O’Boyle; P Gardiner (0-02), M Gallagher, D Keating; G Walsh, C McDonald (0-3); P Duffy, J Keane (0-1), C Carolan (2-2); J Cafferty (1-1), B Benson (0-5, 2fs), S Rochford.
Subs used: S Duffy for Gallagher; D Hegarty (1-0) for S Rochford; H McLoughlin for G Walsh.

Westport
T Higgins; N Lally, D Keane, L Kitterick; D Horan (0-1), L Joyce, L Keegan; E O’Toole, S Scott (0-2, 1f); PJ Foy, S Broderick (0-1), J McHale; B Mullen, R Connolly, D Keane (0-6, 4f).
Subs used: M Gill for Joyce; O Sweeney for Mullins; D Bree for Keegan; G Keane for Foy.

Referee: J Hughes (Kilmaine)