|
|
Crossmolina 1-1 Ballina Town Crossmolina offered a tantalising glimpse of their true
capabilities at Kilmurry on Saturday evening as they earned a well deserved
1-1 draw against table toppers Ballina Town. The Super League destined Town
had easily beaten Crossmolina twice already this season so the hosts had
ample incentive to salvage some respect from the season series, besides the
fact that it was a local derby. Town cruised into their slick footballing
mode straight from the tip-off, as Crossmolina gave committed chase before
eventually adapting to the game after ten minutes. In truth it was a game of
very few scoring opportunities due to great defensive work by both sides and
midfield was a highly combustible area as each hard-earned possession was converted
into lightning attacks on the opposing goal. A well rehearsed free kick
routine nearly paid dividends for Ballina when Brendan Lackey received the
ball from midfield and teed up a colleague for a shot which was only inches
wide. Crossmolina responded when John Duggan played a one-two with striker
Michael Moyles before crossing from the right wing into the box, where Moyles
arrived at full pace but just failed to connect from six yards out.Moyles
nearly opened the scoring after 20 minutes when a long kick out by Michael
Canavan bounced high over the Ballina defence, gifting the striker a chance
at goal. He calmly controlled the ball before sidefooting against the upright
from 12 yards out with goalie Kieran O`Malley leaping in vain. Ballina then
stunned their opponents by taking the lead after 32 minutes with a goal which
seemed to happen in slow motion, such was it`s awkwardness. A left wing cross
seemed to be overhit to the back of the 18 yard box but Declan O?Connor
gamely competed for the header and somehow managed to loop the ball 15 yards
over the backpedalling goalie into the top of the goalmouth. Crossmolina
could be forgiven for wilting after this misfortune but they rebounded to
finish the half strong. Both sides interim managers resorted to formation
shenanigans at half time as Ballina reappeared in a defensive alignment and
Crossmolina adopted an odd man-marking approach at the back. Joe Keane held
his team together through the shaky opening stages of the period and centre
backs Damien Syron and John Moyles formed a solid last line of defence on the
few occasions when the midfield was breached. Ballina struck a wicked free
kick in the 50th minute which dipped just over the bar. In the 70th minute
John McGuinness` cross was handled by a Town defender in the box and referee
Kevin Reilly awarded a penalty kick to Crossmolina. The normally reliable
Paul Flaherty struck the spot kick against the left post and it seemed like
the match would have only one result. However, with seven minutes remaining,
Crossmolina surged forward from midfield and Michael Moyles galloped onto a
through ball before slotting it past netminder O`Malley from 12 yards out to
clinch a magnificent draw for Crossmolina, which was reflected by the
jubilant celebrations which followed the strike. Town introduced striker
Daniel Fahy in a late attempt to swing the momentum but except for a last
minute Lackey header |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
