Crossmolina...1-11 Strokestown...0-10: Crossmolina's significant edge in experience was crucial as they mainly struggled to fend off the brave and gutsy challenge of Strokestown to win a third Connacht senior football title in four seasons in the worst imaginable conditions at Dr Hyde Park yesterday, writes Pat Roche.
If the players are to be applauded for trying to play football in high wind and rain on a sodden pitch, the 4,000 spectators also showed loyalty almost beyond the call of duty for travelling to see what was always going to be a lottery.
"Conditions were the worst we ever played in. I doubt if the match would have gone ahead had the winners not to travel to play London next weekend," said Crossmolina manager John Maughan.
Nothing it seemed was going to dampen the spirits of the players and an absorbing struggle resulted with Crossmolina's title very much in the balance, especially when the Luke Dolan-inspired challengers drew level in the 16th minute of a roller-coaster second half. "It was a victory for experience," said Dolan's immediate rival for "man of the match" Kieran McDonald.
Dolan and McDonald covered more ground than any other players on the pitch. Strokestown's full forward was more often in midfield than on the edge of square and scored seven points from placed balls (six frees and a 45).
McDonald, one of 13 Crossmolina men to figure from the side that won the All-Ireland title two seasons ago, instigated most of the winners' attacks. Although wearing number 11 he was frequently seen collecting the ball deep in his own half and finished up with a personal tally of six points, four from frees.
"We have a host of scoring forwards, the big problem for us today was in trying to get quality ball though to them," said Maughan.
Some of Crossmolina's first-half wides and another from a close free by McDonald reflected the atrocious conditions. It was significant, though, that the Mayo champions created the only two goal chances in the game.
And it was not surprising that both chances fell to opportunist corner forward Liam Moffatt.
Donal Hanley parried Moffatt's first attempt but a clever movement started by Paul McGuinness and Michael Moyles gave Moffatt the chance he longed for and goalkeeper Hanley and right corner back Damien Cassidy were stranded as Moffatt slotted home nearing half-time.
It was typical of Strokestown's levels of resilience that they recovered with points from Luke Dolan and wing back Emmet Collins to bringing them level by half-time, 1-2 to 0-5.
Crossmolina opened up another three-point gap within minutes of resuming but again the tenacious challengers promptly got back on terms, Luke Dolan again doing the business.
"We needed to get the next score," said Strokestown manager Pat Doorey. "but we didn't and that was crucial."
Instead, Crossmolina's game took off at this juncture with McDonald (two), Moffatt and Gardiner tacking on four unanswered points.
Once Crossmolina had established that four-point gap with eight minutes remaining there seemed no way back for Strokestown who remain in search of their first provincial title.
"That search is far from over with us," promised manager Doorey. "We are a young team and will be back again next year."
CROSSMOLINA: B Heffernan; S Rochford, T Nallen, C O'Reilly; P Gardiner (0-1), D Mulligan, G O'Malley; G Walsh (0-1), J Nallen; M Moyles, K McDonald (0-6, four frees), E Lavelle; L Moffatt (1-3), J Keane, P McGuinness. Sub: N Convey for Moyles (45 mins).
STROKESTOWN: D Hanley; D Cassidy, R Dolan, A Cassidy; D Donlon, M Beirne, E Collins (0-1), R Owens (0-1), D Hagan; S Flaherty, P McGinley, J Rogers; K J Dolan, L Dolan (0-7, six frees, one 45), C Silke (0-1). Subs: L Shiel for P McGinley (20 mins); N Owens for R Dolan (36 mins); R Shiel for Hagan (46 mins); K Bosquette for KJ Dolan (47 mins).
Referee: E Stenson (Leitrim).
