Crossmolina of Mayo, the defending champions, qualified for the provincial final by monopolising the scoring in the second half to defeat championship debutantes Bunninadden from Sligo at Crossmolina yesterday.

Despite the atrocious conditions of wind and rain, some fine football was served up by both teams before Crossmolina began to stamp their full authority on the game after 45 minutes.

Bunninadden had the assistance of the elements in the first half and a goal by their top scorer, Fergal O'Flaherty, after 15 minutes put them 1-3 to 0-2 ahead. The defending champions failed to hit the front until four minutes from the interval with a Kieran McDonald goal but the Sligo representatives responded with two further points by O'Flaherty to put them back into a 1-6 to 1-5 lead at the break.

The real highlights of that first period had been two magnificent saves by Michael Finn in the Bunninadden goal, the first after five minutes and the second 15 minutes later.

Against the wind in the second half Bunninadden failed to add to their interval tally but caused many anxious moments for the Crossmolina defence. Five minutes from the end, Crossmolina goalkeeper Barry Heffernan was forced to make a top-class save.

Crossmolina: B Heffernan; F Costello (0-1), T Nallen, capt, C Reilly; P McAndrew, D Mulligan, G O'Malley (0-1); J Nallen, M Moyles (0-2); T Loftus, K McDonald (1-2), P Gardiner (0-2); P McGuinness (0- 4), E Lavelle, J Leonard. Subs: N Convey for T Loftus, L Moffatt for J Leonard.

Bunninadden: M Finn; S Roddy, F O'Dowd, D Flannery; J O'Flaherty, K Brett, P Kerins; P Doohan, M Gormley (0-1); D Gormley, A Killoran (0-1), D Killoran; E Gilhooley, L Og Gormley (0-1), F O'Flaherty (1-3). Subs: G Scanlon for D Flannery, K Kerins for E Gilhooley.

Referee: E Stanson (Leitrim).