Crossmolina eked out a 2-0 win vs Aclare Celtic in a dour Connacht Cup tie at windswept Abbeytown on Sunday. The footballing gods smiled on the contest by halting the torrential rain which had deluged the area for the last two weeks and a last minute decision was made that the tie should go ahead. Crossmolina finished their league season five weeks ago while Aclare had the advantage of being in the midst of their season. As a result Crossmolina were rusty with poor passing blighting their attacking efforts. The opening 20 minutes were as dull as the weather and one could kindly say that the two sides were sizing each other up! The match was awoken from it’s slumber after 20 minutes when Crossmolina counter-attacked after an Aclare corner kick. Steven Canavan carried the ball the length of the field up the right wing and spotted the surging run of John Duggan in the penalty area. His sweet pass was miscontrolled by Duggan who could only shoot weakly from 8 yards out. The sense of urgency seemed to spread to their team mates. Padraig Whittaker set up Duggan for a cross in the left wing corner and his hard, low delivery was met at the near post by Derek Greham who forced the Celtic goalkeeper into a good save. From the resulting corner the ball was headed away to the lurking John McGuinness whose first time shot from 25 yards was tapped over by the suddenly busy netminder. From the corner kick one of the Aclare defenders foolishly handled the ball on his own goal line and the referee didn’t hesitate to award a penalty to the home side. Derek Greham coolly slotted the spot kick into the left corner for his 14th goal of the season to give Crossmolina a 1-0 lead. The defence held firm for the rest of an uneventful half as Aclare’s infrequent attacks caused them little concern. The visitors imposed themselves more in the second half when they spurned several opportunities to even the game. The first chance came from a corner kick when one of their attackers headed wide from 6 yards out at the back post. In the 55th minute John Hegarty was dispossessed by an Aclare striker who bore down on goal from 20 yards out, only to be halted by an immaculate tackle by Whittaker in the penalty area. The home defence was tested again ten minutes later when Duggan’s tackle in midfield gifted possession to a Celtic forward who rounded two defenders before firing past goalkeeper Johnny O’Hora, but not past full back John McGuinness who heroically cleared off his own line. Crossmolina responded when Greham aggressively chased the Aclare goalie, who was attempting to dribble along his own end line, and robbed him of the ball. He swivelled quickly and sent an inviting cross into the penalty area where the charging Whittaker directed a diving header narrowly wide. Their goalie’s wanderlust would drive the final nail into Aclare’s cup coffin . The tireless Jason Canavan and Greham pressured the Higuita wannabe as he once again tried to dribble out of his own area. He lost the ball on the edge of area and Duggan struck it the required 20 yards to clinch the victory for Crossmolina.

Crossmolina - J O'Hora, J McGuinness, J Hegarty, P Whittaker, A Crowley(M Canavan 80), J Duggan, S Canavan, E Syron, K Canavan(J Kearns 45), D Greham, J Canavan