Crossmolina 0-0 Castlebar United (5-4 pens)

Goalkeeper Johnny O’Hora was the hero for Crossmolina as they won their AIB Cup tie with Castlebar United at the second attempt on Easter Sunday. O’Hora decided the penalty shoot-out with a goal and the only penalty save to send the home team through to meet Killala in the next round. A dour battle of attrition had ended in a predictable stalemate despite the best efforts of Crossmolina who had the best chances to score throughout the game. After the original game was abandoned amidst torrential rain both teams reconvened to settle the cup tie in Crossmolina at 2pm. Castlebar were slow to settle and within a minute Derek Greham was clean through on goal after they had tried to play their offside trap. Fortunately for them Greham had not yet found his range and he blazed over the bar. In a match notable for the level of commitment and ferocity of tackling by both teams, it was the 12th minute when the next opportunity arose. Crossmolina worked the ball nicely across the field from left to right, culminating in a cross into the box for Jason Canavan whose shot on the turn was saved by Castlebar goalie Paul Flanagan. Canavan caused more trouble for the men from the county capital when he gathered the ball on the left of the area in the 20th min and dribbled through the defence before squaring the ball dangerously across the goal mouth. Flanagan alertly cut it out before a striker could get a toe to it. After half an hour Derek Greham collected the ball in midfield and turned to slide an inviting through-ball for Joe Kearns to latch onto on the right flank. Kearns outpaced the visiting defence but his shot was well saved by the exposed Flanagan. Nine minutes later Castlebar were caught napping again by a similar move, this time Paul Flaherty supplying the killer pass for Greham. Shane McNicholas recovered in time though to get in a crucial last second tackle and conceded a corner.

The second half provided little more entertainment for a sizable crowd watching in the glorious Abbeytown sunshine. Paul Flaherty unintentionally floated a left wing free kick just over the bar after 4 mins. The half was then interrupted by a sickening clash of heads between Eoin Syron and Kieran Redmond. A Crossmolina corner was swung into the goal mouth area and both players challenged wholeheartedly for the header. The collision left both players dazed and delayed the game for nearly 5 mins. Perhaps this grogginess contributed to Syron’s scything tackle on Flanagan 9 mins later as the goalie picked up an errant Crossmolina pass. Syron came flying through after the netminder had possession of the ball and with a late tackle left him in a crumpled heap on the ground, after spilling the ball. Amazingly referee Gus Alexander allowed play to continue and Jason Canavan placed his shot just over the bar. Three minutes later Crossmolina came excruciatingly close to opening the scoring. A long defensive clearance eluded the Castlebar backline and Derek Greham with his back to the goal hooked the ball high over the onrushing Flanagan. Amazingly the ball bounced onto the crossbar and was cleared by a relieved visiting defence. A minute later Flanagan fumbled Flaherty’s free kick over the bar. The Crossmolina pressure continued when Greham’s left wing cross was parried clear by the busy Flanagan to Jason Canavan whose snap shot was too high. After 90 industrious minutes neither side had broken the deadlock and extra time ensued. Mark Loftus had the only two significant scoring chances in the extra 20 mins. Both he and Greham were outstanding throughout the game with Crossmolina’s best work emanating from their side of the field. A 6th min blast from 18 yards by Loftus was the only worthwhile shot until the last minute with penalties seeming inevitable. Castlebar United had pushed up the field in search of a winning goal. However they lost possession of the ball and Paul Flaherty exploited the wide open spaces which they had just vacated. He slotted a defence splitting pass from midfield to Loftus who was haring down the right wing. With 40 yards to go Loftus bore down on goal unchallenged as the Crossmolina fans sensed victory. Unfortunately their hopes were dashed as he curled the ball left-footed towards the top left corner of the goal. His shot went agonisingly wide and the referee blew immediately for full time, ensuring the nerve-wracking prospect of a penalty shoot-out. Castlebar kicked first and James Shad scored. Then Flaherty scored. O’Hora then made a great save from John Maughan before stepping up to blast home Crossmolina’s second penalty. After that Nolan, Hubbard and Redmond scored for Castlebar as did Canavan, Heffernan and Walsh for Crossmolina and the tie was settled with the home team winnig 5-4 on penalties.

Crossmolina - O’Hora, McGuinness, O’Boyle, Hegarty (Keane 45), O’Malley (Heffernan 100), Kearns (Walsh 83), Syron, Flaherty, Loftus, Greham, Canavan

Castlebar - Flanagan, Henehan, Maughan, McNicholas, Nolan, Beirne, Blake(Nolan 82), Redmond, Hubbard, Shad, Butler