Crosserlough made to earn their win against Lacken

Senior Football Championship Round 2

Crosserlough 1-15

Lacken 1-10

In the final game of the weekend’s club championship action in Cavan, a large crowd gathered in Kingspan Breffni to watch neighbours Lacken and Crosserlough face off in round two. Despite an opening round win over Lavey, Lacken came in as underdogs mainly due to the absence of former All-Star Thomas Galligan through injury, which will likely see him out for the remainder of the club season.

Crosserlough, who are a lot of people's favourites to lift the Oliver Plunkett Cup despite an opening round defeat at the hands of Cavan Gaels, needed to respond to get their championship up and running. Bolstered by the return to the starting line up of Patrick Lynch, Crosserlough were dealt a blow before throw-in as county senior Stephen Smith was unavailable through injury.

In a very entertaining game full of honesty, hard work, physicality and skill, the winning of the game came down to a 10-minute spell in the second-half where Crosserlough ran in a goal and five points without reply.

County senior freetakers Patrick Lynch and Raymond Galligan traded frees in the opening five minutes as both sides burst out of the starting gates to play the game at a very high pace. A well-taken point by Peter Smith on his right foot edged Crosserlough in front after six minutes.

Two minutes later, a brilliantly struck free by late inclusion to the Lacken team Ryan Coyle from where the 20 metre line meets the sideline had them level for the second time.

With 10 minutes played, Crosserlough full-forward Pierce Smith showed great pace cutting in from the sideline before curling over with his right foot.

Lacken midfielder Phillip Moynagh appeared to be everywhere on the field and was instrumental on the 14th minute in setting up Lacken’s goal. After working the ball from midfield to the 20-metre line, Moynagh laid off to Killian Galligan who was cutting in from the right side of the goals at a tight angle, but made little of the difficulty as he blasted to the back of the Crosserlough net.

Two minutes later, Lynch reduced the gap to a single point as he spun out of trouble before kicking over from 35 metres.

Killian Galligan was proving a huge handful for the Crosserlough full-back line as he won the ball between two Crosserlough defenders before hooking over the bar.

A clever flick at midfield by Phillip Moynagh set up a Lacken attack and a well-placed pass by Donal Finnegan found Galligan, who again pointed to give Lacken a three-point advantage. Mickey O'Connor’s side made it three scores without reply on the 21st minute again through full-forward Galligan as the Celtics’ work rate continued to surpass Crosserlough’s.

A point from play from 42 metres by Lynch was cancelled out two minutes later when Conor Finnegan was fouled and Killian Galligan slotted over the resulting free. The final score of the half came with four minutes remaining as Pierce Smith showed great agility in beating three Lacken defenders before tapping over from 20 metres out.

Half-time substitute David Shalvey had an immediate impact as he provided the pass for Pierce Smith to reduce the gap to two points after three minutes of second-half action. On the seventh minute of the second half, Killian Galligan broke through on goal and, blasting for the net, had to settle for a point as Thomas Byrd’s hand diverted the ball over the bar.

Lacken, up to this point, looked the better side but Crosserlough crucially increased the tempo in the middle period of the second half to take control of the tie. A shot by the energetic Oran Rehill dropped short into the Lacken goalmouth, resulting in Pierce Smith contesting with Raymond Galligan in the air. Despite calls for a foul on Galligan, the ball ended up in the back of the net and after consulting with her umpires, Margaret Farrelly awarded the goal.

With the sides level, Crosserlough won the resulting kic-out and Brandon Boylan gave Jimmy Higgins’ side the lead for the first time since the 14th minute. Pierce Smith, on the 40 minutes, added his fourth point of the game before Darren Gaffney showed great acceleration, carrying the ball through the Lacken defence before splitting the posts, leaving Crosserlough three points ahead.

A long-range Lynch free after Dara McVeety was fouled and a point from the left boot of Shalvey finished a run of a goal and five points for Crosserlough without reply.

Killian Galligan sent over a free after Phillip Moynagh was fouled, ending a 14-minute wait for Lacken’s second score of the second-half.

Pierce Smith crowned off a fine full-forward display with a point, leaving his tally for the evening at 1-5. From the resulting kick-out, James Smith sent the ball over the bar from 40 metres to leave six points between the sides with seven minutes remaining.

Lacken’s never-say-die attitude saw them rally when Conor Finnegan was fouled after gathering a high ball to the Crosserlough square and once again Killian Galligan converted the free. Substitute Donal McSorley provided Craig Lanauze with an attacking mark which he converted, leaving four points between the sides.

Lacken managed to create a goal chance when McSorley broke in behind the Crosserlough defence but his punted shot hit the side netting to the right of the goals.

With a minute remaining in ordinary time, Crosserlough’s victory was sealed thanks to defender Peter Smith's second point of the evening as Crosserlough ran out five-point winners.

Crosserlough: Thomas Byrd, John Cooke, Cian Boylan, Patrick O'Reilly, Dara McVeety, Conor Rehill, Peter Smith(0-2), James Smith(0-1), Darren Gaffney(0-1), Shane McManus, Dylan Harten, Oran Rehill, Patrick Lynch(0-4,2f), Pierce Smith(1-5), Brandon Boylan(0-1)

Subs: David Shalvey for S McManus, Mark Stuart for P Smith, Tommy Boylan for P Lynch, Fionn Lovett for D Harten, Ryan Stuart for O Rehill.

Lacken: Raymond Galligan(0-1f), Kevin Shanaghy, David Wilson, Finn Riley, Aodghan Halton, Craig Lanauze(0-1), Shane Finnegan, Stephen Brady, Philip Moynagh, Donal Finnegan, Conor Finnegan, James Moynagh, Ryan Coyle(0-1f), Killian Galligan (1-7, 3f), Shane Moynagh

Subs: Paul Leddy for J Moynagh, Peter Galligan for S Brady, Micheal Shanaghy for R Coyle, Donal McSorley for D Finnegan, Torin Brady for S Moynagh.