Crosserlough retain league title with win over Stars

ACFL Division 1 final

Crosserlough 2-16

Kingscourt Stars 3-6

Crosserlough retained the All-County Football League Division 1 title with a comfortable win over Kingscourt at a rainy St Matthew’s Park, Crosskeys.

At the end of an intriguing first half, Crosserlough led by 1-7 to 1-3. They had dominated for long spells yet the Stars exposed vulnerabilities in their defence and created at least four goal chances – and a few more in the second half, too.

Crosserlough dominated early on, wavered a little and then took complete charge in the second half. Despite Kingscourt filtering a lot of men back, Crosserlough opened them up with alarming ease in the opening exchanges as they carved out a three-point lead and saw James Smith send a goal chance wide of the post, all before the Stars had taken a shot at the posts.

Crosserlough targeted the Kingscourt kick-out and looked to swarm the Stars when they had possession and both tactics yielded fruit, with several scores direct from turnovers in the opening half.

Paddy Lynch took a pass from Conor Rehill and sent over the opening point; Kingscourt spilled the resulting kick-out and Dara McVeety did well to squeeze over another under pressure.

James Smith galloped through and could have taken an easy point but went for goal, his shot veering left of goal, and after Jordan Morris, who had been starved of possession, was turned over, the Lough poured forward and Lynch again sent over.

Kingscourt finally registered a shot but, true to their early form, it was blocked down. Crosserlough spurned some good chances though and on 13 minutes, the Stars punished them when Barry Tully and Ciaran Dermody did well and Peter Corrigan rifled to the bottom corner.

A 45 from Lynch nudged Crosserlough in front before Kingscourt almost snuck in for a second goal. Barry Reilly, playing very deep, won a mark and caught Crosserlough napping when he took it quickly; Odhran Cunningham beat Thomas Byrd to the ball but his handball-style effort rebounded off the inside of the post to safety.

Lynch (free) and James Smith – after Adrian Smith intercepted a kick-out – made it 0-6 to 1-0 before Kingscourt created another goal chance, this time Padraig Faulkner latching on to Jordan Morris’s pass but directing it over the bar at full stretch.

That left two in it with 10 minutes remaining in the half but Crosserlough showed their attacking quality again when James Smith found Lynch, who tucked away low to the corner of James Farrelly’s net.

And when the county full-forward waltzed through and tapped over another, it looked like a rout might be on the cards.

Kingscourt then almost had another goal when a high ball from Shane Gray saw Joe Dillon palm goalwards, with Thomas Byrd doing well to turn it over the bar. Morris was next to get in behind the ‘Lough full-back line with a sniff of goal but he was taken down and Reilly knocked over the resulting free to leave four between them at the halfway mark.

On the resumption, Dillon hit the crossbar – Kingscourt struck the woodwork four times in all, getting nothing out of any of those attacks – and at the other end, the outstanding Peter Smith pointed off the left.

A Reilly free, after Dillon was fouled, cut the gap again but the would-be winners then took complete control of the game. Hunting in packs and running hard lines out of defence, they upped the ante and the Stars simply couldn’t deal with it.

After a quick kick-out, they broke upfield with Rehill instrumental and Peter Smith smashed to the net to make it double scores, 2-8 to 1-4, with five minutes on the clock.

The Stars struggled with James Smith’s powerful runs all day and from one, he teed up McVeety for a point. Further scores followed from Emmett Boylan and two from James Smith as Jimmy Higgins’s side stretched their legs, extending their lead to 2-12 to 1-4.

James Farrelly saved well from Brandon Boylan at this juncture too as the assault continued, a Faulkner point momentarily stopping the bleeding.

Peter Smith and Barry Reilly (free) traded scores before Emmett Boylan added another off the left boot to leave nine between the sides as the clock ticked down.

Dillon, who again showed well, was upended bearing down on goal; after consulting with his umpires, ref Mickey Lee pointed to the spot. Reilly slotted to the bottom right but the kick had to be re-taken; second time round, he put in the other corner but it was cosmetic at this stage anyway.

Another well-taken Peter Smith point made it 2-15 to 2-6 but the Stars weren’t done yet and after Kevin Curtis hit the crossbar with a powerful effort, Morris was on hand to volley home.

It was a consolation score, really, and Crosserlough had the final say when McVeety split the posts for his third and Crosserlough’s 18th score as they ran out commanding winners.

For Crosserlough, the only unbeaten team in the county in the league, this was a nice boost before championship. Their main men are all going well - Peter and James Smith bagged 1-7 from play between them, Paddy Lynch another 1-3 from play while Conor Rehill was excellent, as was Dara McVeety.

They have others to return, too, although they will have plenty to work on too, notably some slack defending.

Kingscourt, for their part, will be happy to have made a final for the first time since losing the 2016 decider to Lacken and the three extra games (including two against Ramor) should stand to them when the championship throws in.

Crosserlough: Thomas Byrd, John Cooke, Patrick O’Reilly, Fionn Lovett, Peter Smith (1-3), Cian Boylan, Dara McVeety (0-2), James Smith (0-4), Conor Rehill (0-1), Kieran Smith, Brandon Boylan, Darren Gaffney, Adrian Smith, Emmett Boylan (0-2), Paddy Lynch (1-5, 1f, 45)

Subs: Dylan Harten for F Lovett (ht), Oran Rehill for A Smith (45), Pierce Smith for P Lynch (51), Ryan Galligan for D Gaffney (57)

Kingscourt Stars: James Farrelly, Cathal McKeown, Padraig Faulkner (0-2), Paddy Farrelly, Barry Tully, Paddy Meade, Odhran Cunningham, Peter Corrigan (1-0), Sean Burke, Ciaran Dermody, Barry Reilly (1-3, 1-0 pen), Padraig Donagh, Jordan Morris (1-0), Alan Clarke, Joe Dillon (0-1)

Subs: Shane Gray for P Donagh (22), Kevin Curtis for A Clarke (41), Ciaran Roe for C Dermody (45), Robbie Rowntree for O Cunningham (59)

Ref: Mickey Lee