Crosserlough outlast Gowna in extra-time to reach Division 1 Final

ACFL Division 1 semi-final

Crosserlough 3-19

Gowna 2-18

AET

Damien Donohoe at Kingspan Breffni

In what was a gripping and high-quality contest, Crosserlough emerged victorious over Gowna after extra time in Tuesday’s Romar Energy ACFL Division 1 semi-final at Kingspan Breffni. This encounter delivered goals, long-range two-pointers, dramatic swings, and high drama before Ryan Daly’s men eventually sealed a four-point win and booked their place in the final against Ramor United.

From the throw-in, Crosserlough set their stall out with pace and purpose. Attacking into the ‘Flaggy Bottom’ end, they quickly moved the ball across the width of the pitch, switching from a blocked channel on the stand side to the far wing where Stephen Smith popped up to fire over the game’s opening point from close range.

Gowna responded with impressive fluidity. From the very next kick-out, a quick delivery into Oisín Pierson allowed the corner-forward to tee up Eoghan Hartin, who sprinted off the shoulder to level matters with less than a minute on the clock.

But Matthew Costello soon signalled Crosserlough’s intent. Gathering the ball on the 45-metre line, he pulled the trigger just as Killian Brady lunged in to block. With inches to spare, Costello curled over a superb two-pointer to edge his side into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

Robbie Fitzpatrick reduced the gap with a well-taken score, but the game’s first goal wasn’t far away. A lofted early ball from Peter Smith found Dara McVeety isolated inside. Showing tremendous agility and composure, McVeety turned inside his marker and slotted low into the corner of the net to send Crosserlough four clear. In the process, he suffered a hand injury but had done the damage. With McVeety receiving treatment, Crosserlough didn’t let up. Stephen Smith added another point to push Crosserlough into a five-point lead with eight minutes played.

Gowna, however, began to find a foothold. A foul on Daire Madden gave Cian Madden the opportunity to split the posts from a placed ball, and when Conor Brady pressed Crosserlough goalkeeper Shane McManus into overcarrying, Robbie Fitzpatrick tapped over the resulting free to leave just three in it.

In response Emmett Boylan stepped up from distance to land a beautiful two-pointer over the black spot with his cultured left foot. But Gowna, after spurning several earlier opportunities, began to sharpen up in front of goal. Pierson powered through to blast over, and soon after Fitzpatrick added another to bring it back to a three-point game with 18 minutes played.

Crosserlough struck for their second goal when Oran Rehill used his pace to burst past two defenders before lofting a cross into the square. Peter Smith read it expertly, redirecting it into the net with a deft touch to restore a six-point cushion.

Now in full flow, Crosserlough added a point from Costello, who tapped over a 13-metre free after Ryan Galligan was fouled. Just as it seemed Gowna were faltering, a pivotal substitution turned the tide. The injured Conor Brady was replaced by Conor Madden, and within minutes the experienced forward scored a two-pointer with his second touch, reigniting Gowna’s challenge.

Crosserlough’s response came once more through Costello, who struck another glorious two-point effort from 42 metres following a foul on McVeety. The final point of the half belonged to Pierson, who weaved in from the right and slotted over.

At the break, Crosserlough held a deserved lead: 2-9 to Gowna’s 0-9, with Boylan, Costello, and McVeety central to their scoring power. Gowna restarted with intent. Inside the opening minute, Daire Madden curled over a beauty from 35 metres before Cian Madden, reacting fastest to an earlier shot that hit the upright, pointed to narrow the gap to four.

Then came a moment of inspiration. Conor Madden turned provider this time, forcing a turnover on Harry Boylan along the sideline before laying it off to Ryan Brady, who launched over a stunning two-pointer to make it a two-point game.

Fitzpatrick then landed his third point to make it a one-point game. The momentum was firmly with Gowna. But up stepped Kieran Smith, powering through from centre half-back with a 50-metre solo run before clipping over to end Crosserlough’s second-half drought.

Conor Madden answered instantly for Gowna with a point off his right boot. Minutes later, Boylan looked to have found the net, but Mark Brady punched his dipping effort away from the danger area.

Emmett Boylan soon returned to the scoresheet, cutting in from the right to send over a point and give Crosserlough a slight cushion of two. However, Gowna weren’t done. After Peter Smith fisted wide from close range at one end, Cian Madden fisted over at the other to keep it tight.

Boylan looked set to find the net again after Matthew Costello won a kick-out and drove forward, but he had to settle for a point. Moments later, Fiachra Brady bravely blocked Boylan’s second goal-bound effort, and Costello nailed the resulting 45 to push the lead out to three.

Then came the twist: Tiarnan Madden peeled away from his marker and struck for a dramatic equalising goal after his initial effort was saved by McManus. Conor Madden followed that up with a fine point to give Gowna the lead for the first time in the match with six minutes remaining.

With four minutes remaining, Crosserlough needed something, and it came via Emmett Boylan, who reacted to Cillian Brady’s block on McVeety by calmly firing over to level the sides once more.

In injury time, Conor Madden had one last chance to win it for Gowna with a two-point effort, but his shot drifted wide. Referee Noel Mooney blew for full-time: Crosserlough 2-14, Gowna 1-17. Extra time beckoned.

The first period of extra time saw Gowna edge in front once again through a Cian Madden free, before Crosserlough substitute Michael Donohoe produced a moment of class with a point from the left corner.

Just before the half-time break in extra time, Daire Madden missed a gilt-edged chance when he blasted narrowly wide, but he made up for it with a composed score early in the second period.

That, however, would be Gowna’s last score. Crosserlough upped the ante with Peter Smith winning possession from a kick-out and setting Rehill off on a run that ended with McVeety slotting over to level. Moments later, McVeety again found space in the left corner to give Crosserlough the lead.

As Gowna chased the equaliser, a drag down on Rehill saw Tiarnan Madden black-carded. Brandon Boylan stepped up and converted the resulting free as a two-pointer, pushing Crosserlough three ahead.

There was still time for more drama as Cormac Brady received a second yellow card for a late challenge on Rehill, reducing them to 13 men. Brandon Boylan converted the free to seal a four-point win.

Crosserlough march on to the final, where a showdown with Ramor awaits.

Crosserlough: Shane McManus; Dylan Harten, Patrick O'Reilly, Harry Boylan; David Shalvey, Kieran Smith (0-1), Brandon Boylan (0-3, 1tpf, 1f); Patrick Lynch, Peter Smith (C) (1-0); Ryan Galligan, Emmett Boylan (0-5, 1tp), Oran Rehill; Stephen Smith (0-2), Dara McVeety (1-2), Matthew Costello (0-6, 1tp, 1tpf, '45,1f)

Subs used: Ben Colwell for R Galligan, Michael Donohoe (0-1) for S Smith, Shane McVeety for O Rehill, Stephen Smith for E Cusack, Oran Rehill for E Boylan, Mark Reilly for M Costello.

Gowna: Mark Brady; Caolain Madden, Cillian Brady, Cian Halton; Fionnan Brady, Conor Brady (C), Fiachra Brady; Ryan Brady (0-2,1tp), Eoghan Hartin (0-1); Cian Madden (0-1f, 1f), Tiarnan Madden (1-0), Daire Madden (0-1); Oisin Pierson (0-1), Odhran Madden, Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-1).

Subs used: Cormac Brady for R Fitzpatrick, Conor Madden (0-2, 1f) for Cian Madden, TJ Fitzpatrick for Odhran Madden, Raymond Keogh for Eoghan Hartin.