Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-2 Glenhest

May 18th 2008 Crossmolina 2-2 Glenhest

Crossmolina will regard this result as “one that got away” in a season of sub-par performances that has contributed to a prolonged hangover from last seasons relegation campaign. Glenhest arrived in Abbeytown with a noticeably different squad from that of previous seasons but they acquitted themselves well in a contest that conferred also-ran status on both clubs for the remainder of the year. Defensive lapses blighted both squads and neither possessed a game-breaker; although Stephen Jennings sparkled sporadically for the visitors while Stewart Griffin was unable to display his usual guile for the Deelsiders. Nevertheless, the scoring would not suffer due to lack of ideas as the first defensive mistake of the afternoon gifted Glenhest the opening goal after ten minutes. An innocuous lob into the Crossmolina penalty area prompted uncertainty and the indecision of centre-backs and goalie presented Jennings with a chance to prod the ball over them all into an unguarded net. Crossmolina’s inability to win any of their first three home games didn’t bode well at this point and Glenhest’s happy knack of shooting at every opportunity generated a belief that the record might not be corrected during this game. Netminder Morgan O’Malley was relieved to see most of the speculative efforts fly over his crossbar but Jerry McGreevy in particular caused him to fret with a well measured twenty five shot. In contrast Crossmolina were struggling to concoct any meaningful chances, a trend that has hampered their season, and they only had a solid thirty yard free kick by Paul Flaherty to show for their first half graft. Glenhest were deserving of their half time lead but the inevitable Crossmolina backlash after the interval tested them in a manner they had not experienced during their comfortable first half peramble.

Within seconds of the restart Mark Loftus met a left wing cross with a header that just lacked the necessary ferocity to bother Gary Mulhern. It was a sign of intent from the hosts though and they were visibly in the ascendancy. The improvement was rewarded ten minutes later when John Duggan took advantage of some ponderous defending to head the ball past custodian Mulhern into the net after it had bounced through from the left of midfield. Seven minutes later the turnaround was completed by a fortuitous second goal. Right fullback Darragh Carroll advanced into the Glenhest half before floating a delivery into the penalty area. Striker Anthony Ruddy rose to challenge Mulhern for the ball but it eluded both of them and continued on into the net much to the bemusement of everyone. From the restart the game acquired a much more sinister tone after a dangerous looking tackle by Griffin stirred the emotions of the opposition. For the next fifteen minutes all tackles were executed with 20% extra free. Referee Jimmy Blake maintained the peace and a full complement of players by issuing yellow cards and sage advice in equal measures. Plucky Glenhest were a constant nuisance and they came close to restoring parity repeatedly. Jerry McGreevy might have had their best chance from fifteen yards out but he lifted the ball a smidgeon too high and it landed on the back of the net, rather than in it. With ten minutes remaining their fire seemed to be extinguished by an incisive Crossmolina attack but Mulhern gathered the ball and quickly dispathed it downfield where it beat the defence and created a glorious scoring opportunity. However, O’Malley rushed out and blocked the shot, then recovered rapidly to smother the subsequent effort. But with his defence in full scramble mode it seemed certain that the attack would end profitably for the visitors and so it proved when Christopher Rowland rammed the ball past the bedraggled

Crossmolina – Morgan O’Malley, Darragh Carroll, Anthony Timoney (Anthony Ruddy 60), Jonathan Burke, Michael Timlin, John Duggan, Stewart Griffin, Mark Loftus, Paul Flaherty, Derek Greham (Darren Walsh 80), Michael Cafferty

Glenhest – Gary Mulhern, Dara Reid, Damian Murray, Ciaran Murray, Sean McGreevy, Christopher Rowland, Kevin Mulhern, Jerry McGreevy, Stephen Jennings, Shane Mulchrone, Stephen Ryder

Referee – Jimmy Blake

Match Reports >> 2008 Match Reports >> Crossmolina 2-2 Glenhest