Gaelic Games

Conor Loftus scores last-minute penalty to clinch title for Crossmolina and spark emotional scenes

Team captain Mikie Loftus dedicated the All-Ireland final win to Róisín Cryan

Conor Loftus of Crossmolina Deel Rovers scores a penalty with almost the last kick of the game to clinch victory in the All-Ireland Club IFC final against Ballinderry. Photograph: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Conor Loftus of Crossmolina Deel Rovers scores a penalty with almost the last kick of the game to clinch victory in the All-Ireland Club IFC final against Ballinderry. Photograph: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
Paul Keane
Sun Jan 26 2025 - 16:50
AIB All-Ireland Club IFC final: Crossmolina Deel Rovers (Mayo) 1-12 Ballinderry (Derry) 0-13

Just moments after Conor Loftus dispatched the penalty that won the All-Ireland club IFC title for Crossmolina, full-time sounded.

The Mayo player was swamped by celebrating team-mates but immediately made his way off the Croke Park pitch, down to the tunnel and to the sanctuary of the dressing-room.

It is just over a fortnight since the tragic passing of his partner, Róisín Cryan, and how Loftus managed to not just play in the final but to excel and to shoot the winning score, in such pressurised circumstances, is anyone’s guess.

Back on the field his team-mates celebrated a national trophy to go along with the club’s senior success of 2002.

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GAA President Jarlath Burns spoke movingly about a difficult few weeks for the Mayo club while team captain Mikie Loftus dedicated the win to Roisin Cryan.

A thrilling and sobering experience for everyone associated with the club on an afternoon they’ll never forget.

“A very emotional time for everyone,” said Man of the Match Niall Coggins who praised his team-mate’s immense character. “That’s Conor, nerves of steel. You just knew he was going to score it, there was no doubt about it.”

Ballinderry could have complained about the penalty, awarded against goalkeeper Ben McKinless for appearing to stand his ground in the face of the advancing Stephen Duffy, but declined to.

Instead, they took a painful defeat on the chin and will wonder for some time how they didn’t complete their own senior/intermediate double.

The 2002 senior champions led by 0-13 to 0-11 in the 62nd minute following a burst of five points in a row.

They’d displayed their own character earlier when falling three behind after a strong third quarter from Crossmolina.

But even with Ryan Bell and sub Daniel McKinless impressing for Ballinderry, and captain Gareth McKinless coming good when really required, they couldn’t hold on.

Crossmolina Deel Rovers: JP Mulhern; D Fox, D Coggins, M Gordetskyy; M Loftus, C Loftus (1-1, 1-0 pen), A Coggins; D Syron, J Flynn; K Mulhern (0-1), J Maheady (0-2, 1f), N Coggins (0-3); D Walsh, P Leddy, F Duffy (0-4, 4f). Subs: L Loftus (0-1) for Syron 26, P Loftus for JP Mulhern 45, C Carolan for Walsh 57, S Duffy for Leddy 59, C Fergus for M Loftus 65.

Ballinderry: B McKinless; R O’Neill, E Devlin, G McKinless; E Rocks, O Duffin, A Mullan; R Forbes (0-1), S Coleman; T Rocks (0-1), C O’Neill (0-3, 2f), S McCann; C Crozier (0-3, 2f), D Lawn, R Bell (0-3). Subs: Daniel McKinless (0-2) for Coleman 38, M Smyth for Lawn 49, O Mullan for Rocks 65.

Referee: S Lonergan (Tipperary).