Aghamore vs Crossmolina (WP)

 Aghamore 1-14

Crossmolina 0-17

Eoin Horkan

Aghamore 

Aghamore and Crossmolina could not be separated after an absorbing contest on Friday night, with a dramatic late equaliser from Aghamore goalkeeper Adam Byrne ensuring the spoils were shared.

With the game seemingly slipping away from them, Byrne showed remarkable composure to step up and split the posts from just inside the two-point arc, cancelling out what looked to be a winning score from Crossmolina’s Oisín Deane.

It was Aghamore who made the more impressive start, setting the tempo from the opening whistle and quickly establishing a five-point advantage.

Cillian Mooney opened the scoring for the hosts before Brendan Harrison was moved into the full-forward line. The positional switch immediately paid dividends, with Harrison finding the target twice in quick succession.

Liam Lavin also got in on the scoring act as Aghamore dominated the early exchanges and looked capable of building a sizeable lead.

Crossmolina needed something to halt the momentum and Conor Loftus duly provided it, producing one of his trademark scores to finally get the visitors on the scoreboard.

Aghamore continued to threaten, however, with Tom O’Flaherty adding another point shortly before the quarter-hour mark.

The hosts then struck for the game’s only goal.

A long ball was delivered into the danger area and Derry’Óg Cox rose highest to claim possession before calmly finishing to the net, sending Aghamore into a commanding position.

Crossmolina, though, refused to panic.

The North Mayo side gradually worked their way back into the contest, with Mahedy converting two frees before captain Mikie Loftus produced an excellent score from play to reduce the deficit before the interval.

Aghamore still held the advantage at the break, but Crossmolina had given themselves a platform from which to launch a second-half comeback.

Playing with the assistance of the wind after the restart, Crossmolina immediately began to close the gap. Mahedy added another placed ball before Kevin Mulhern, pushing forward from his full-back position, split the posts to leave only a goal between the sides.

The momentum appeared to be shifting towards the visitors, but Aghamore responded in style.

James Lyons found the target before Harrison registered his third point of the evening. Jack O’Connor, who worked tirelessly throughout, also got his name on the scoresheet as the home side restored a four-point cushion.

As the second half progressed, the breeze began to ease and that appeared to suit Aghamore, with Lavin showing excellent accuracy to register his third score of the night.

Crossmolina, however, remained within touching distance.

Diarmuid Coggins raised the first orange flag of the evening with a fine two-point effort before Mahedy converted another free, reducing the gap to less than a goal.

The tension increased with every attack as both sides sensed that the contest was there to be won.

Aghamore centre-back Conor Hunt then stepped forward to settle the nerves with an important score, but Crossmolina immediately responded.

Conor Loftus mirrored the effort at the other end, landing Crossmolina’s second two-pointer of the evening and leaving just the minimum between the teams.

The game became increasingly fractious as the clock wound down. Crossmolina substitute Patrick Leddy was shown a red card following an off-the-ball incident involving Harrison, leaving the visitors to finish the contest with 14 men.

Despite being reduced to 14, Crossmolina continued to show tremendous character and levelled the contest with another Mahedy dead ball.

The pressure was now relentless, with neither side willing to settle for a share of the spoils.

Mahedy then edged Crossmolina ahead once again, but Aghamore hit back almost immediately, Lavin holding his nerve to restore parity.

With the game entering added time, Crossmolina appeared to have delivered the decisive blow.

Oisín Deane rose to fist the ball over the bar, putting the North Mayo side in front and leaving Aghamore facing defeat after surrendering their early advantage.

But there was still one final twist.

Aghamore goalkeeper Adam Byrne made his way forward and, with the pressure firmly on his shoulders, produced a magnificent late equaliser from just inside the two-point arc.

His score sparked celebrations among the home supporters and ensured that neither side left empty-handed after a pulsating encounter.

Aghamore will feel they had opportunities to close out the game after their excellent opening, while Crossmolina will take great satisfaction from the resilience they displayed to recover from five points down, battle through a difficult second half and come within seconds of claiming both points.

In the end, Byrne’s late heroics ensured that the sides finished level in a game that had virtually everything — scores from distance, a goal, a red card and a dramatic finish.

Scorers:Aghamore Liam Lavin (0-4) Brendan Harrison(0-3),Derry Óg Cox(1-0),James Lyons, Conor Hunt,Jack O’Connor,Tom O’Flaherty,Ross Egan Adam Byrne (0-1)

Crossmolina:James Mahedy (0-8 6fs),Conor Loftus (0-3 1 2pt),Diarmuid Coggins (0-3 1 2pt),Oisin Deane,Kevin Mulhern,Mikie Loftus 0-1 each.

Aghamore:Adam Byrne;Conal Breslin,Brendan Harrison,Justin Kelly;James Lyons,Conor Hunt,David Kenny;Oisin Greally,Sean Óg Tigue;Michael McNeive,Liam Lavin,Tom O’Flaherty(0-1);Derry Óg Cox,Jack O’Connor,Cillian Mooney.

Subs Used:Ross Egan (for Derry Óg Cox), Conall Hession (for Kelly).

Crossmolina:Patrick Loftus;Sean Óg McGuinness,Kevin Mulhern(0-1),Matthew Gordetsky;Mikie Loftus,Conor Lotus(,Aaron Coggins;Josh Moyles,Cillian Fergus;Dylan Flynn,Oisin Deane,Diarmuid Coggins;Diarmuid Walsh,James Mahedy,Niall Coggins.

Subs Used:Patrick Leddy (for  Walsh,) Darragh Syran (for M Loftus)

Referee Garryowen MacMahon (Davitts.)