Crosserlough advance after semi-final deluge

ACFL Division 1 semi-final

Crosserlough 2-9

Gowna 1-10

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

The hardy supporters who packed their umbrellas and braved the elements for heavyweight clash were left disappointed as the anticipated fireworks failed to materialise.

Crosserlough and Gowna have carved out a gripping rivalry in recent seasons and when the semi-final line-up threw them together, a tasty appetiser to championship’s main course was expected. Gowna had tended to have the edge on the head-to-head stakes, with a league final and two championship wins, but Crosserlough pulled one back here and were deserving of it, even if the rain ruined the match.

Conditions were very difficult for the players and officials. The rain was incessant, making handling and basic skills execution something of a lottery, and there was water lying on parts of the pitch from the start. And by the end of this game, large sections were water-logged.

Crosserlough were the better team in the first half but only had a three-point lead to show for their troubles at the interval, having registered seven wides as opposed to one for Gowna.

Manager Jimmy Higgins situated James Smith at full-forward and it was clear his team had been instructed to hit the county man early and often – and the tactic worked as the delivery was good and Smith won most ball which came his way.

After a spate of early wides, Crosserlough opened the scoring with a Brandon Boylan free in the seventh minute and hit the jackpot three minutes later when they bagged the first goal of the contest.

Dara McVeety beat an opponent at midfield and launched the ball long to Smith; his quick lay-off found full-back Paddy O’Reilly, who finished well past Ronan Bannon.

Gowna got off the mark with a Cian Madden free and soon added a second point when Mark McKeever found Conor Casey for a good score.

TJ Fitzpatrick added the next, blasting inches over the bar, and Tiarnan Madden showed pace and trickery before tying the game.

Crosserlough responded well, though, and Cian Boylan and Darren Gaffney combined to play in Adrian Smith, a proven goalscorer who did the honours again with some style, sending his shot in via the crossbar.

Darragh McConnon (mark) and Emmett Boylan, with a huge score from play, traded points as the ’Lough went in holding a three-point lead.

The rain grew heavier from there on in and made a farce of the second half. Cian Madden (two frees) and Brandon Boylan swapped points early on before Gowna sub Eoghan Hartin, back from a long-term injury, kicked a good point with his first touch.

Frees from Peter Smith, Brandon Boylan and Emmett Boylan stretched Crosserlough’s lead out to four and Gowna’s cause wasn’t helped at this stage when James Madden picked up a black card.

A well-taken score on the run from Adrian Smith left six between them but Gowna came roaring back when a well-worked move was finished at the back post by sub Ray Keogh.

Two Cian Madden frees ensured a nervy finish for Crosserlough but a terrific run from the impressive Conor Rehill drew a free and Brandon Boylan made no mistake as they held on to win by two.

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Darragh McConnon, Cillian Brady, TJ Fitzpatrick (0-1), Mark McKeever, Fionn Hartin, Cian Madden (0-4f), Ryan Brady, Ryan Donohoe, Tiarnan Madden (0-1), Robbie Fitzpatrick, Daire Madden, Conor Casey (0-1), Conor Madden, Oisin Pierson

Subs: Andrew Dewart for R Fitzpatrick (20), Eoghan Hartin (0-1) for M McKeever (39), Raymond Keogh (0-1) for TJ Fitzpatrick (50), DJ Madden for R Donohoe, Ryan Madden for J Madden (both 57)

Crosserlough: Thomas Byrd, John Cooke, Patrick O’Reilly, Dylan Harten, Peter Smith (0-1f), Cian Boylan, Dara McVeety, James Smith, Conor Rehill, Kieran Smith, Brandon Boylan (0-4, 3f), Darren Gaffney, Adrian Smith (1-1), Emmett Boylan (0-2, 1f), Harry Boylan

Subs: Ryan Galligan for K Smith (40), Matthew Costello for H Boylan (49), Ryan Stuart for D Gaffney (57), Oran Rehill for A Smith (58), Mark Stuart for E Boylan (60)

Ref: Noel Mooney