An Eoin Syron wonderstrike with 5 minutes remaining clinched 3 points for Crossmolina against relegated Ballyvary on Sunday afternoon in Abbeytown. In a match more notable for it's effort that flowing football both sides overcame deficits with Crossmolina holding the upper hand, 3-2, at the final whistle. The game burst into life in the first minute when Crossmolina earned a free kick on the left side of midfield which was floated to the back post where Mark Loftus' late run went untracked by the Ballyvary defence. He couldn't keep his header down though, and the ball went harmlessly over the bar from 12 yards out. Ballyvary responded with a nifty piece of play when their front man lobbed the ball over his head to his striking partner who was charging into the box behind him. He wasted his colleagues ingenuity by heading over from 10 yards out. Crossmolina took the lead in the 10th minute when Jason Canavan scored an opportunistic goal from 15 yards out which he finished with great aplomb. It was deja vu for the Blue Bombers who found themselves in arrears yet again in a season which has seen them lose 13 games and win 2 (one of which was against Crossmolina). They endured a shaky 15 minuted spell after conceding the goal during which the home side wasted a catalogue of scoring opportunities. Goalscorer Canavan sped through on goal again only to fire wide. John Duggan volleyed over from the edge of the box after a defensive ricochet sat up nicely for him to strike. He was guilty of a worse miss after 25 minutes when he was sent clear of the Bombers defence by a great Steven Canavan pass but he froze in a one-on-one confrontation with the goalkeeper who saved his feeble shot. Crossmolina would curse their profligacy in front of goal when Ballyvary equalised after half an hour. A right wing throw in was controlled and centred by a Bomber for Colm Carney to head the equalizer from 8 yards out. The second half was played in a fractious atmosphere as Ballyvary were subjected to several late challenges from the home side which the referee allowed to go unpunished, much to the chagrin of the visitors. They survived the rough and tumble to take a 2-1 lead with a fluke goal in the 53rd minute which was credited to Seamus Kenny. A long hopeful punt into the Crossmolina area was allowed to bounce, seemingly untouched, into the home net with their defence in disarray. They say that sport doesn't build character but it certainly reveals it. After losing 3 of their last 4 games and having rarely showed any fluidity in this contest it would have been easy to write off struggling Crossmolina. But they responded by upping the tempo inspired by the tigerish tackling of Steven Canavan in midfield and his brother Jason's unceasing industry up front. Ballyvary rode their luck when a goalmouth scramble ended with their goalie pouncing on the ball as two home strikers hacked at it. Then Greham raced clear of his marker but with only the netminder to beat his touch deserted him and he lost possession of the ball. He made amends, however, by bringing his team back on level terms in the 78th minute when he scored with a glancing header. It was nearly a carbon copy of Ballyvary's first goal as he rose highest in a congested penalty area to head in a right wing cross for a 2-2 scoreline. Crossmolina maintained their urgency but it looked as if the game would end in a draw until the home team won a corner kick with 5 minutes remaining. Duggan whipped the ball towards the edge of the box where Eoin Syron was lurking unmarked. He executed a perfect volley to send the ball into the top right corner of the goal over the despairing leap of a Bomber defender on the goal line. It was a glorious goal worthy of winning any match. Neither side will be too pleased with their performance in a scrappy match but the result is a great boost to Crossmolina who lost the plot in recent games and now finish their season with stern tests against the top two sides, Erris Utd and Achill.Ballyvary face the prospect of Division One football next season after a season they will not remember with any fondness. 

Crossmolina - J O'Hora, M Loftus, K Canavan, M Canavan, P Flaherty, J Duggan, S Canavan, E Syron, J Loftus (J McGuinness 70), D Greham, J Canavan

Premier league results

Claremorris 4-4 Erris

Lacken 2-4 Ballina Town

Bangor 6-1 Achill Rovers

Glenisland 4-4 Conn Rangers