Gort 0-2 Crossmolina

Crossmolina advanced to the third round of the FAI Junior Cup with a comfortable

2-0 victory in Gort on Sunday afternoon. In a dull game that rarely sparked to

life it took a quarter of an hour for either side to register a threatening

attempt on goal. Crossmolina created that effort when Paul Flaherty’s left wing

free kick was headed wide by Paul McGuinness. Two minutes later Michael Canavan

made a stunning save from a fierce Gort free kick. McGuinness was again involved

minutes later when his right wing industry set up a shooting chance for Michael

Moyles whose shot on the turn was well saved by home custodian Martin Leonard.

The inevitable Crossmolina breakthrough arrived midway through the half when

Flaherty’s right wing corner was headed home by Moyles in a crowded goalmouth.

Gort didn’t have a chance to recover before a Derek Greham left wing corner led

to their second goal. Damien Syron planted a header straight at Leonard who

couldn’t hold the ball and Michael Timlin pounced to poke in Crossmolina’s

second goal. Gort struggled to respond to this blow and the visitors gained in

confidence as the match progressed, at times playing some good football. Good

work by Moyles and McGuinness on the hour mark lead to a clever back heeled

effort at goal by Greham which was easily saved. Greham then had a good chance

blocked by Leonard when the striker failed to round him in a one-on-one

situation before scuffing the rebound goalwards. Gort’s best moment was a free

kick which Leroy Smith struck just wide with 20 minutes to go. Crossmolina

substitute John Duggan could have sealed the tie with 5 minutes remaining when

he ran onto a Moyles pass but he missed a sitter by tripping over the ball with

the goal at his mercy.

Gort - M Leonard, Emerson, J McMahon, L Kelly, M Cassidy, M Lee, L Smith, K

Kelly, C Fahy, R Prince