Crossmolina and Achill Rovers shared the points in an honourable end of season draw at Abbeytown on Sunday morning. With nothing at stake for either side it was a surprisingly entertaining match with lax defending and wasteful finishing providing plenty of talking points. The home side had the better of the play but couldn't convert their possession into goals often enough. The match began with a bang as Crossmolina opened the scoring after 5 minutes. John Duggan received the ball in midfield and placed an inviting pass into the path of ersatz striker Johnny O'Hora. O'Hora held off the challenge of an Achill defender as he bore down on goal and finished with a powerful shot into the far corner, vindicating his pleas for a striking role on the team. Achill weren't behind for too long as Wesley Padden unleashed a thunderous shot from 25 yards out which dipped perfectly over stranded Crossmolina goalkeeper Michael Moyles. Eoin Syron tried to answer for the home side when he won a tackle and rapped a speculative 25 yard shot which sailed just over the bar. In response Achill shredded their opponents defence with an incisive passing move which culminated in a glorious scoring chance for an overlapping Rovers striker in the 6 yard box. Goalie Moyles smothered his shot brilliantly to get his defence off the hook. Derek Greham had opportunities to give Crossmolina the lead again but was off the mark until 5 minutes before half-time. He made a good run onto a ball from midfield and the ball bounced perfectly for him on the right hand side of the box to half-volley a rasping shot into the far top corner of the Achill goal. Crossmolina took a 2-1 lead into the interval and the second half continued in the same scrappy vein with both sides charging forward alternately. Padraig Whittaker and Steven Canavan underhit shots from the edge of the Rovers box after doing well to create the openings as the home side bid to finish off the contest. Rovers attained parity though midway through the half with a controversial goal. An Achill player struck a low drive from 18 yards out which netminder Moyles appeared to fumble on the ground and Rovers striker Ashley Stevenson alertly pounced to poke the loose ball home. Crossmolina's best chance of winning featured a smart piece of play by right back Kenny Canavan. He was in possession well inside the Achill half when Rovers decided to push up and play the offside trap in an effort to bamboozle him. Unperturbed, Canavan dribbled through the defence who were more concerned with the offside than tackling him and he fired a solid shot from 10 yards out which forced the goalkeeper to make a fantastic save. After that both sides seemed subconsciously content with a draw and that is how the game ended. It brought to an end an enigmatic season for Crossmolina who will feel that they underachieved and didn't do themselves justice over the course of 18 games. But it will give management something to work on in the long winter months until the beginning of next season. 

Crossmolina - M Moyles, K Canavan, J Hegarty, P Whittaker, J Heffernan (M Canavan 45), J Duggan, S Canavan, E Syron, D Greham, J Canavan, J O'Hora

Premier League results

Erris Utd w/o Ballyvary

Claremorris 3-2 Conn Rangers

Bangor 2-6 Ballina Town

Glenisland 3-0 Lacken