How Mayo stars sunk Caragh's All-Ireland final hopes

Crossmolina Deel Rovers 1-12

Caragh 0-6

Pitch inspections proved crucial over the weekend and, even after rumours of a delay, Caragh and Crossmolina Deel Rovers marched onto the field on time and ready to go. Pearse park was covered in an icy glaze with a feeling underfoot similar to what you would imagine frozen sand to be.

There was caution, nerves and cold in the opening throws of this game as the sides took turns dropping an effort short into the respective goalkeeper's arms.

It was the two number 11’s that didn’t find the range, Darragh Swords and James Maheady, the latter of which would get the game’s opening score after six minutes.

Maheady’s effort was blocked and subsequently changed path, but nonetheless crept over the bar.

Maheady turned provider as Crossmolina doubled their advantage in a dominant start to the game in terms of possession. The centre-forward slipped in Diarmuid Coggins, who sharply cut inside before popping over a fine point.

After some poor passing and little joy, Caragh sprung into life with two points in as many minutes to draw level.

Ronan Doorey did brilliantly to keep possession and find Eoghan O’Haire after falling foul to the slippery surface, the Caragh forward in turn found Josh Gannon who sent over an excellent point.

Caragh would score from the subsequent restart as they turned over the ball high up the field and Eoghan O’Haire punished the sloppiness of the Mayo side.

After drawing level at 0-2 each, this game’s biggest moment came just three minutes later when Crossmolia were awarded a penalty.

Niall Coggins got down the side of the Caragh defence and hand-passed across the face of goal. Among a sea of slaps and swipes, the ball hit the deck along with plenty of bodies and the referee signalled for the penalty. It was tough to see from the press box, but, after consultation with a video replay, it appeared that Caragh defenders had thrown themselves on the ball in their defensive desperation.

Mayo star Conor Loftus stepped up to the spot and produced a fine finish into the left corner of the net, sending Michael Behan the wrong way.

A minute later Loftus was on the scoresheet again after a sensational point off the outside of his boot to make this game 1-3 to 0-2 after 16 minutes.

Caragh’s poor passing was now being fully exploited by their opponents and Jordan Flynn dispossessed Conor Sullivan before firing over himself to put Caragh further under the cosh.

To their credit, the Kildare side stopped the rot and, after braving the storm, got their first point in 13 minutes when Darragh Swords swung over a gorgeous point from 40m out.

Caragh got themselves back within three just before the break when Ryan Burke sent a long ball into the danger area that was missed by all and simply bounced over the bar off the ground.

Burke’s bouncing effort sent the sides in at 1-4 to 0-4 with Caragh still in this game thanks to those two late scores. Despite the relatively minor gap in scoreline, Crossmolina had impressed far more than the Kildare outfit. The Mayo side had multiple county stars strutting their stuff and Caragh had not performed to the level that brought them to the dance.

Caragh’s comeback hopes were short-lived after the restart as the Mayo side took off on a gallop.

The typically reliable Fionán Duffy got his first of the game after a quiet outing to that point. The next few minutes were all about Jordan Flynn as the midfielder took over proceedings with two superb scores and some imperious play.

Flynn’s double was followed by a Duffy free and a first score of the day for towering Cavan forward Patrick Leddy. Crossmolina hit five points in seven minutes after the break, and all without reply. The rampant run left this game at 1-9 to 0-4 after 37 minutes.

The closest Caragh came to rattling the cage of the Mayo men was when Darragh Swords sent a high, searching ball into Kevin Connor who was looking to cause trouble. Crossmolina dealt with the fray superbly and exited with possession.

10 minutes from the end and the leading side pushed themselves nine clear when Fionán Duffy grabbed his third of the afternoon.

Indicative of the winning side’s dominance, Caragh would get their first point of the second half eight minutes from the end from an Eoghan O’Haire free.

Two minutes later and they had another when Jake Corrigan fired over. The Caragh full-forward had been afforded very little of the ball to that point, but took his chance well.

Both sides rang in the changes with Crossmolina having one eye on the decider in Croke Park the following week and Caragh giving a run to those that have helped them reach this point.

Mikie Loftus added another for the leading side when he fired over with a minute remaining in regulation time.

The final score of the game would be one of the last kicks altogether, and it came from the boot of star man Conor Loftus who made it 1-12 to 0-6 in his side’s favour.

The final whistle blew and the Kildare and Leinster champions Caragh were out. The loss puts an end to a legendary year for the club who registered their first Kildare Intermediate title since 1995 and a first ever Leinster Championship win.

MAIN MAN
Kevin Connor
Despite the excellence of Jordan Flynn, Caragh midfielders Kevin Connor and Dan Lynam were two of the bright spots in an underwhelming performance. Connor in particular held his own and, as always, was a superb out-ball when his side were under pressure.

TURNING POINT
It may not have changed the result, but there is no denying that the penalty is a moment Caragh could have lived without.

TALKING POINT
An absolutely brilliant season for Caragh, a first ever Leinster title win and a Kildare Intermediate Championship win some 29 years after their last (1995).

WHAT NOW?
Caragh will now look to rest and regroup after a long old season. While they can put their feet up (briefly), they now have a new rulebook to learn ahead of the new season. Crossmolina Deel Rovers will face Derry side Ballinderry in the All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship Final in Croke Park.

SCORERS
CROSSMOLINA DEEL ROVERS: Conor Loftus 1-2 (1-0 penalty), Jordan Flynn 0-3, Fionán Duffy 0-3 (0-1 frees), James Maheady 0-1, Diarmuid Coggins 0-1, Patrick Leddy 0-1, Mikie Loftus 0-1.

CARAGH: Eoghan O'Haire 0-2 (0-1 free), Josh Gannon 0-1, Darragh Swords 0-1, Ryan Burke 0-1, Jake Corrigan 0-1.

TEAMS
CROSSMOLINA DEEL ROVERS: JP Mulhern; Diarmuid Fox, Kevin Mulhern, Matthew Gordetskyy; Aaron Coggins, Conor Loftus, Lorcan Loftus; Mike Loftus, Jordan Flynn; Diarmuid Coggins, James Maheady, Niall Coggins; Diarmuid Walsh, Patrick Leddy, Fionán Duffy. Subs: Stephen Duffy for Diarmuid Walsh (50 minutes), Cillian Fergus for Lorcan Loftus (52 minutes), Cathal Carolan for Patrick Leddy (56 minutes), David Howley for Fionán Duffy (59 minutes), Fearghal Duffy for Matthew Gordetskyy (63 minutes).

CARAGH: Michael Behan; Cathal McKennedy, Matthew McNally, Billy Byrne; Conor Sullivan, Ryan Burke, Paul Dockery; Kevin Connor, Dan Lynam; Josh Gannon, Darragh Swords, Dan Murray; Ronan Doorey, Jake Corrigan, Eoghan O'Haire. Subs: Fergal McKennedy for Josh Gannon (51 minutes), Alex Kehoe for Billy Byrne (51 minutes), Billy Kelly for Conor O'Sullivan (51 minutes), Austin Nevin for Paul Dockery (54 minutes), Dan Campbell for Ronan Doorey (54 minutes).

Referee: Kieran Eannetta, Omagh St Enda's, Tyrone