Final replay of Crosserlough force Cavan with a late hit

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Crosserlough 2-12 Kingscourt Stars 2-12

Crosserlough and Kingscourt must do it all again after a late point from Mark Stuart secured a draw for ‘Lough, whose 48-year wait to get their hands on the Oliver Plunkett Cup will continue for at least another week.

Crosserlough dominated the possession betting in the first half, but the Stars were still well in touch in the interval, trailing 1-7 to 1-4.

A goal from Padraig Faulkner in the 29th minute was key to that, while, at the other end, Crosserlough wasted several chances, recording five goals in that first half.

Crosserlough started off superbly, chaining determined and fluid movements from the opening attack, which resulted in a point for the spirited Adrian Smith.

Target man Patrick Lynch opened his account with a free kick from the ground and then sent an attacking mark after getting a pass from Shane McVeety as the pregame favorites made three clearings in the first five minutes.

Kingscourt was pinned down and with county midfielder James Smith dominating in the air, his front line was deprived of possession, prompting Faulkner to move to center.

But Crosserlough’s shot was letting them down (of their first six shots, they registered three wide) and another pair of promising plays were snapped, with David Shalvey fluffing up his lines as a scoring opportunity materialized in 10 minutes.

James Smith took a pass from Adrian Smith and curled into a super point to put four between them, but the Stars finally came off the mark in the 14th minute when top scorer Barry Reilly converted a free after a foul on Faulkner.

Crosserlough was already at the top; James Smith won the next kickoff and Brandon Boylan converted an attacking mark and then came the first goal of the contest.

Stephen Smith picked Adrian Smith with a good pass; The first touch of the corner was perfect and, with the second, he launched into the net.

Kevin Curtis and Patrick Lynch traded points, both attacking points, before Barry Reilly threw a free-kick after a foul on the impressive Corrigan.

Stephen Smith and Barry Reilly raised white flags with game-quality scores, but Kingscourt refused to panic and came up with a great goal when Reilly played Faulkner and the captain did the rest, sending a powerful shot into the roof of the net. .

That left three between them at halftime, but Crosserlough restored his six-second-point lead on the restart when Lynch’s shot fell short and winger Cian Boylan sent a big shot through the roof of Darragh McKenna’s net.

Lough were now in a similar position to the 2018 final, six points up at the start of the second half. Could they hold out?

Kingscourt’s response was emphatic. A carefree point from Reilly got them going again, then the same man took a break and finished off and, in the 40th minute, sent a free to leave the game three points.

Kingscourt was humming. Lynch (free) scored one for Crosserlough, but they were starting to send out relief flares when the Stars landed three in a row, a free Shekleton interspersed with game-high scores from Philip Tinnelly and Peter Corrigan.

When John Oates and Corrigan combined well and Kevin Curtis punched the net, the eleven winners were two up front with eight minutes to go.

Crosserlough struck back with a tricky free from Lynch, but Reilly knocked it out with a 46-meter effort from the deck. Lynch made an attacking mark, but when Tully reached over to put two between them in injury time, that seemed to be it.

However, in the closing seconds, Shalvey scored a big point for Crosserlough and then after Shekleton swerved they called for a draw from somewhere as Mark Stuart reached the end of a good play to drop everything square.

Crosserlough: Brian Malocca, John Cooke, Patrick O’Reilly, David Shalvey (0-1), Shane McVeety, Conor Rehill, Cian Boylan (1-0), Mark Stuart (0-1), James Smith (0-1), Shane McManus, Brandon Boylan (0-1m), Darren Gaffney, Adrian Smith (1-1), Patrick Lynch (0-6, 3f, 3m), Stephen Smith (0-1)

Substitutes: Pierce Smith for McManus (40 minutes), Ryan Galligan for Gaffney (46), Peter Smith for Adrian Smith (58)

Kingscourt Stars: Darragh McKenna, Cathal McKeown, Alan Clarke, Killian Farrelly, Shane Duffy, Paddy Meade, John Oates, Sean Burke, Peter Corrigan (0-1), Barry Tully (0-1), Philip Tinnelly (0-1), Kevin Curtis (1-1.1m), Cian Shekleton (0-1f), Padraig Faulkner (1-0), Barry Reilly (0-7, 5f)

Substitutes: Oisin Cunningham for Burke (46)



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