Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 1-2 Kilmore

August 31st 2008 Crossmolina 1-2 Kilmore

Pat Gilbert pinched a dramatic late winner for Kilmore in Abbeytown on Sunday afternoon as the visitors resurrected their hopes of avoiding relegation with an impressive win. Prior to Gilbert’s magical moment it seemed likely that the spectacular second half performance of Crossmolina’s goalkeeper, Johnny O’Hora, would be enough to salvage a draw for the Deelsiders. Kilmore entered the game three points behind their opponents and the importance of the match to their season was immediately evident as they began the contest in urgent fashion. Their first opportunity to capitalise on a purposeful opening arrived after five minutes when a right wing delivery found Mark Gilbert at the back post but he was slightly surprised to receive the ball behind a group of players and was unable to apply the necessary finish from six yards out. The deadlock was broken after ten minutes when Daniel Keane struck a wonderful twenty five free kick that dipped beautifully into the top left corner. Crossmolina’s cause was further dented ten minutes later when striker Derek Greham twisted his ankle after contesting a header, necessitating an early substitution by the hosts. The delay while the player was being tended to seemed to affect the visitors worse because they conceded an equalising goal immediately after the restart when Michael Cafferty leapt highest in the penalty area to meet a right wing corner kick with a thumping header from ten yards out. The remainder of the half was scrappy and neither side established any discernible rhythm. The second period was considerably more eventful with Kilmore enjoying the upper hand in possession and chances but they seemed jinxed to have met Johnny O’Hora in such inspired form. Daniel Keane attempted a reprise of his first half strike soon after the break but this time he applied a little too much curl and it went left of the post.

Crossmolina responded with one of their better moves of the day midway through the half when Stewart Griffin held the ball up near midfield before turning to thread a delightful pass to the overlapping John Duggan but the striker’s poked effort inside the penalty area trickled wide of right post. Kilmore subsequently applied severe pressure to the home backline but were thwarted by O’Hora and misfortune in equal measures. With twenty minutes remaining Michael O’Boyle met a right wing corner kick with a solid header but he guided it marginally too high and it cleared the crossbar. Moments later the same player stabbed a shot goalwards that seemed destined to hit the net but O’Hora instinctively stuck out his telescopic right arm and parried it away, much to the amazement of everyone watching. The netminder’s talents were on full display again with ten minutes left when a penalty area scramble culminated in Mark Gilbert hooking a shot on the turn that was about to sneak inside the left post before O’Hora intervened and spectacularly palmed it away. Kilmore would have been forgiven for losing heart after witnessing such defiance in the Crossmolina goalie but they persevered gallantly and were rewarded a minute before the end when another bout of goalmouth activity was punctuated by a clever finish from Pat Gilbert who volleyed home from ten yards out, thus igniting scenes of great jubilation amongst his colleagues on and off the field. Crossmolina’s only chance to retrieve the situation came deep in injury time when Flaherty floated a free kick into the penalty area from the right flank but after the delivery eluded both friend and foe referee Aiden Nevin sounded his whistle to bring a tense afternoon to a close. Crossmolina get another chance to preserve their Premier Division status next week at Swinford.

Crossmolina – J O’Hora, M Timlin (P McGuinness 55), P Loftus, K Canavan, M Howley, D Carroll, P Flaherty, M Loftus, M Cafferty, J Duggan (M O’Malley 85), D Greham (S Griffin 20)

Referee – Aiden Nevin

Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 1-2 Kilmore