Cross’ in seventh heaven

Cross’ in seventh heaven

Mike Finnerty

CROSSMOLINA took a giant step towards Mayo GAA immortality last Sunday when a superb team performance – illuminated by the individual brilliance of Ciaran McDonald – carried the Deel Rovers to their seventh Moclair Cup in the club’s 119 year history.
It was their sixth championship win since 1995 and afterwards team captain Peadar Gardiner spoke eloquently about his club and his team-mates. He also paid tribute to their opponents, Ballaghaderreen, and the late President of Crossmolina GAA Club, Mattie Heffernan.
“It’s great to win a county title but it’s really just a stepping stone to where we want to go,” said Gardiner. “We’re just delighted to come out on the right side of the result here and make progress. Ballaghaderreen produced another incredible performance and we had to be at our very best to retain our title.”
Gardiner, who chipped in with two valuable points, also paid tribute to man of the match, Ciaran McDonald. “There’s very little left to say about Ciaran. He has been given a talent by God and it’s a privilege to be in the same team as him.
“But this is about a team, a squad and a club and now we have to look ahead. We have been in this position before and need to refocus on St Brigid’s for next weekend.”

MEANWHILE, a veil of silence was drawn on the issue of the vacant Mayo manager’s job last night, writes Edwin McGreal.
The outstanding favourite for the job, John O’Mahony, refused to be drawn on his intentions while Mayo GAA Board Chairman James Waldron said he was issuing no comment.
O’Mahony, who was involved with the Ballaghaderreen side who were beaten by Crossmolina in Sunday’s County final replay, met Waldron last week. However, he also told The Mayo News last week that no decision would be forthcoming ahead of Sunday’s replay.
But, despite that game now being out of the way, O’Mahony is still remaining tight-lipped on the timing of any decision regarding his intentions.
“There’s nothing new to report,” he said last night. “People will know the news immediately when it is available. Sunday’s events took time out too but we’ll have to move on now. I wouldn’t put a time-frame on it, a decision will be made soon. It was a busy week last week, as well as my involvement with Ballaghaderreen I had a lot of political work to do,” O’Mahony told The Mayo News last night.
O’Mahony has been the primary candidate for the position since Mickey Moran vacated the job on October 17 last.