Sport

Crossmolina get a fright in London

Crossmolina - 1-11 St Brendan's, London - 1-7: ALL-IRELAND CLUB FC: St Brenedan's, London, came close to toppling reigning All…

Mon Dec 09 2002 - 00:00

Crossmolina - 1-11 St Brendan's, London - 1-7:ALL-IRELAND CLUB FC: St Brenedan's, London, came close to toppling reigning All-Ireland club champions Crossmolina in a pulsating quarter-final at Ruislip yesterday. Only over-eagerness in front of goal prevented the home side from springing a surprise.

Crossmolina must have been worried at half-time. The sides were level (1-4 each), and the Connacht men had seen a five-point lead overtaken.

But the visitors looked a transformed side in the second half and they built a lead of six points with 12 minutes left for play.

But again St Brendan's took the initiative, and scores by Barry Solan, Martin Gill and substitute Liam O'Connell left only a goal between them. Try as they might the London champions failed to break down the defensive wall and Kieran McDonald made victory secure with a last-minute point.

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Crossmolina's direct football played rich dividends on a heavy pitch while St Brendan's short-passing movements invariably broke down when confronted by defenders of the calibre of Tom Nallen, Damien Mulligan and Gerard O'Malley.

At times James Nallen and Gabriel Walsh had their hands full coping with Ciaran McCarthy and James Carmody at midfield, but Nallen and Walsh proved their worth in the final quarter with St Brendan's threatening an upset.

McDonald, Michael Moyles and Liam Moffett produced some delightful scores for Crossmolina, but, overall, St Brendan's will rue their missed chances.

CROSSMOLINA: B Heffernan; S Rochford, T Nallen, C O'Reilly; P Gardiner (0-1), D Mulligan, G O'Malley; G Walsh, J Nallen; M Moyles (1-1), K McDonald (0-5, three frees); E Lavelle, L Moffett (0-2), J Keane, P McGuinness (0-2). Subs: M Heffernan for D Mulligan, F Costello for C O'Reilly, N Convey for P McGuinness, J Leonard for J Keane.

ST BRENDAN'S: B Molloy; J McNabb, G Cullen, S Murphy; K Duffy, F Greenan, J Cafferkey; C McCarthy, J Carmody; B Solan (0-4), S Manley, M Gill (1-1); B Bolger, E O'Reilly, N Barry (0-1). Subs: L O'Connell (0-1) for B Solan, C Byrne for J McNabb.

Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).