Crossmolina, the Mayo champions, contrived to flirt with danger - which included having their county forward Kieran McDonald sent-off deep into added time in the first half - before eventually showing too much class, power and guile for Galway standard bearers Killererin at Tuam yesterday.
Being favourites can be a great burden, especially when opponents stick rigidly to their defensive duties; and playing the entire second-half into the wind with 14 men merely added to Crossmolina's difficulties. Yet, when the questions were asked of them late on in the game, they responded magnificently to book a place in the final on Sunday week.
In truth, Crossmolina should have put the game beyond Killererin's reach in the first-half. If McDonald had brought his kicking boots, they certainly would have done. But the centre half forward contributed four of his side's seven wides in that period and ended an off-day badly when he was deemed the culprit for an off-the-ball incident (three minutes and 42 seconds into "injury" time) which left his marker Ollie Wilson apparently pole-axed.
Wilson, however, made a sufficient recovery in the interval to be able to take his place for the second-half.
Some of Crossmolina's football in that opening period was as sweet as it gets. One particular point, scored by the undisputed man-of-the-match Enda Lavelle, was the product of a magnificent crossfield pass from McDonald to Joe Keane, who then supplied Lavelle. The Mayomen led 0-6 to 0-1 as the clock ticked past the 30 minutes but, in injury time, Tommie Ryder and Padraig Joyce added points before McDonald's dismissal.
Attempting to close a threepoint deficit, Killererin made swift inroads. Two Padraig Joyce frees reduced the gap to a single point and Tommie Joyce exemplified his side's renaissance with a wonderful run up the sideline before passing across the field to Tom McHugh. His shot fell agonisingly short, into the hands of Crossmolina goalkeeper Barry Heffernan, and that seemed to take some of the fizz out of Killererin's fightback.
Crossmolina regrouped and, despite the numerical inferiority, made it increasingly difficult for Killererin players to gain and use possession. A fisted point from Paul McGuinness and another from Joe Keane enabled Crossmolina to breathe more easily and a couple of lapses in concentration and discipline by their opponents gave them two valuable frees from Johnny Leonard.
With an hour's play gone, Crossmolina had a three-point lead again and a desperate Killererin attack ended with referee Enda Stenson awarding a free out against Tommie Joyce. His response, in desperation, was to kick out at Stephen Rockford and the referee's response was to dismiss the Killererin forward.
The Galway team's dream was over, and Crossmolina rubbed salt into the wound by kicking two further points in added time: one from Peadar Gardner and a wonderful score from wing back Gerard O'Malley, who epitomised his side's attacking philosophy throughout.
CROSSMOLINA DEEL ROVERS: B Heffernan; S Rockford, T Nallen, C Reilly; P McAndrew (0-1), D Mulligan, G O'Malley (0- 1); T Loftus, J Nallen; E Lavelle (0-2), K McDonald (0-1, free), J Leonard (0-2, frees); J Keane (0-2), M Moyles (0-1), P McGuinness (0-1). Subs: P Gardner (0-1) for Loftus (48 mins); N Convey for Moyles (56 mins); G Walsh for Leonard (59 mins).
KILLERERIN: A Keane; S Mannion, T Mannion, K Courtney; P Miskell, O Wilson, G Curran; J Wilson, M Birmingham; M Mitchell, T Joyce (0-1, `45'), T Wilson; T Ryder (0-1), P Joyce (0-5, frees), T McHugh. Subs: M Nicholson for Miskell (20 mins); J Murphy for Ryder (52 mins).
Referee - E Stenson (Leitrim).
