Smiths lead Crosserlough to another final

ACFL Division 1 semi-final

Crosserlough 3-16

Ballinagh 1-13

Senior champions Crosserlough advanced to another final when they saw off Ballinagh with six points to spare in this ACFL Division 1 semi-final.

Ballinagh started well but once Crosserlough hit their stride, they were the better side. The foundation for their success was a dominance around the middle third on kick-outs and their forwards were sharp on the evening, with Stephen Smith’s superb goal just before half-time the highlight.

Last year’s intermediate winners began on the front foot. Two points from Shane Finnegan, sandwiching a fisted effort from Cormac Timoney who won a kick-out and worked the ball forward, saw Adrian Maguire’s side surge into an early three-point advantage but Crosserlough then kicked 1-3 unanswered in four minutes to establish a lead they would never relinquish.

Brandon Boylan opened their account before Patrick Lynch added a 45 and Emmett Boylan sent over after a good move. On six minutes, Lynch did well to create a chance which impressive wing-back Cian Boylan finished coolly to the bottom corner to make it 1-3 to 0-3.

Niall McDermott won and converted a free and Thomas Smith added one from play but Pierce Smith, who had an outstanding match, replied with a free after a foul on Cian Boylan.

McDermott repeated his earlier trick but Crosserlough then reeled off four in a row from Pierce Smith (one free, one terrific effort from a tight angle), Shane McManus (mark) and Emmett Boylan to open a five-point gap.

Ballinagh needed something dramatic to drag themselves back into the game and they got it when Thomas Moore laid off to Shane Finnegan, who showed his pace and skill to cut through and tuck a good finish low to the net.

A free from McDermott made it a one-point game again but after Ryan Galligan made a mark at midfield, Pierce Smith pointed again. The same man quickly added another from play before his brother Stephen showed a great turn of pace to bury a cracking finish to the net just before half-time.

That left the Kilnaleck-based side six to the good at half-time and despite Ballinagh’s best efforts, they struggled to make much inroads into that deficit.

Moore got a fist to a dropping ball to reduce the gap but Pierce Smith hit back with two frees and one from play to put seven between the sides.

Stephen Smith raised another white flag for Jimmy Higgins’s side before McDermott scored twice (one free) and Cian Boylan added another to leave it 2-15 to 1-11 entering the final quarter.

Shane Finnegan landed a brace (one free, one excellent score from play) either side of a fisted Peter Smith point but as Ballinagh pushed up, Crosserlough caught them on the counter and Stephen Smith rose highest to punch home his second goal of the day and secure a nine-point win and a place in the league final.

Crosserlough: Brian Malocca, Karl Lynch, Patrick O’Reilly, John Cooke, Cian Boylan (0-2), Conor Rehill, David Shalvey, Ryan Galligan, Patrick Lynch (0-1, 45), Shane McVeety, Pierce Smith (0-8, 4f), Shane McManus (1m) , Brandon Boylan (0-1), Stephen Smith (2-10, Emmett Boylan (0-2)

Subs: Eoin Smith, Peter Smith (0-1)

Ballinagh: Eoghan McGrath, Evan Finnegan, Killian McBride, Aaron Reilly, Niall O’Reilly, Cormac Timoney (0-1), Paddy O’Brien, Padraic O’Reilly, Thomas Moore (0-1), Thomas Smith (0-1), Shane Finnegan (1-4, 1f), Barry Connolly, Kyle Tyler, Niall McDermott (0-5, 4f), Daryl Gaynor

Subs: Enda Brady, Ronan Connolly, Tristan Graham, Peter Donohoe