Crossmolina end 32 year wait for Mayo minor title
Crossmolina have captured their first minor A title in 32 years following a 2-17 to 2-14 victory against Westport at a wet and windy Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar.
The opening exchanges of the first half were keenly contested but an awesome two-pointer from Kobe McDonald on six minutes shunted Crossmolina into a three point lead (0-4 to 0-1).
Ben Holmes was a lively presence for Westport and his terrific goal on nine minutes gave the sky blue and navy a slender 1-2 to 0-4 advantage.
Crossmolina’s Dylan Flynn produced an impressive display in midfield and he managed to win some vital possession at crucial junctures in the game.
An entertaining first half captivated the large attendance, and four points on the spin from Crossmolina’s Joseph Loftus, Ethan Reilly and Oisín Deane (two) mustered a 0-9 to 1-4 lead for the maroon and white after 26 minutes.
However, the west Mayo outfit rallied before the interval and points from Killian Conway and their raiding wing-back Darragh Reynolds, ensured that the sides were level at the break on a 0-9 to 1-6 score-line.
One of the key moments of the game occurred on 33 minutes. Crossmolina’s Kobe McDonald’s ambitious attempt of a two-pointer from beyond the 45’ and near the sideline dipped under the crossbar and fortuitously ended up in the back of the net.
McDonald’s team-mate Dylan Flynn then managed to land a monstrous two-pointer on 34 minutes.
A hard-working Crossmolina added their second goal of the night on 40 minutes when Dylan Keane’s clinical finish rustled the back of the net, and the Deel Rovers now held a 2-13 to 1-8 lead.
The silverware seemed destined for north Mayo when Flynn guided over a gem of a two-pointer on 44 minutes.
A brave Westport refused to give up the chase, however, and a goal from substitute Fionn Ó Cinnseala on 53 minutes reduced the deficit to just four points (2-16 to 2-12).
However, Oisín Deane’s late point helped secure a memorable and historic minor title for Crossmolina.