Watch and read: Garrymore stun Crossmolina as Kobe McDonald plays final game before leaving for Australia
This was no ambush. Garrymore stunned Crossmolina Deel Rovers in a contest that saw them superior for long periods. It was a shock but one they fully deserved.
Already this year, they’ve downed the 2025 champions Ballina and backed it up against Castlebar. They scored the final three points on Saturday night to secure a famous home win. All-Ireland winner Eoin McGreal, who man-marked Kobe McDonald, kicked an equaliser with three minutes remaining and from there, they surged own the straight.
A Fionan Duffy free with 55 minutes played saw Crossmolina take the lead for the first time all night. The enormous crowd bellowed for a response. Boy, did it come.
They came from everywhere. North Galwegians snaked up from across the border, thousands of fanatics stood on banks and in adjacent fields, the BBC and the national media were all in town for this seismic quarter-final clash. They climbed walls and the dugout, a cherry-picker was erected in the field behind one of the goals.
Why? How many reasons do you need? A home fixture for Garrymore, the small club who powered into the senior ranks in 1969 and have remained ever since, the Saturday night lights, the tangible buzz that has been swirling ever since July’s triumph and an exciting Crossmolina team empowered by the Kobe factor. The stadium announcer pleaded with a giddy crowd, do not enter the field after the final whistle. It proved futile.
Read More
The visitors would have been content to make for the dressing room level 0-7 to 0-7 at half-time. They started with three turnovers from their first three attacks and scored two points, one from play, in the opening 20 minutes despite the breeze at their backs.
Garrymore hit the ground from the off. Shane Nally bombed over a two-pointer, Cathal Slattery tapped over and Andy Glennon hit an outside-of-the-boot beaty from outside the arc to make it 0-5 to 0-1.
While Crossmolina were suffering from a lack of composure at one end, Garrymore could have had more at the other. A Justin Commins goal chance was snuffed out by goalkeeper Patrick Loftus and they missed the subsequent 45. A Darren Quinn two-point attempt looked good until it tailed off at the end.
McDonald had Mayo team-mate McGreal locked to him. He had to deal with a huge amount, with attention on and off the field. All evening long, the shouts of “Kobe!” were constant. The AFL star kicked two points in the first half, both from 45s. Jordan Flynn missed two long-range attempts. Their main attacking force the other brother, Dylan, who landed a two that finally seemed to settle them.
Darren Quinn and Mark Gibbons put Garrymore three clear at the start of the second half, before McDonald finally made his mark. He kicked the leveller and was fouled for a free, but their inability to slow it down and exert some control proved costly. Two snatched efforts from outside the arc by Flynn and McDonald did not come close.
McDonald will now fly to Australia in November for St Kilda’s pre-season. Garrymore, meanwhile, continue their own journey to the summit.
D. Quinn 0-5 ( 1tp, 2f); S. Nally (tp); C, Slattery, A. Glennon (tp), M. Gibbons 0-2 each; E. McGreal 0-1
K. McDonald 0-3 (2 45); D. Flynn 0-3 (1 tp);F. Duffy 0-2 (2 f); N. Coggins, D. Coggins, J. Maheady, C. Loftus, 0-1 each.
B. Lynskey; C. Commins, J. Oates, J. Commins; D. Dolan, L. Og Horkan, E. McGreal; G. Golden, A. Hughes; E. Hession, A. Glennon, S. Nally; D. Quinn, C. Slattery, T. Nally.
Subs: M. Gibbons for Nally (30); P. Hession for Dolan (44); J. Hession for Nally (59).
P. Loftus; S. Og McAonghusa, M. Gordetskyy, A Coggins; J. Moyles, C. Loftus, D. Coggins; J. Flynn, M. Loftus; D. Flynn, K. McDonald, N. Coggins; O. Deane, J. Maheady, D. Walsh.
Subs: D. Fox for Coggins, F. Duffy for Loftus (half-time); P. Leddy for Deane (46).
S. Corcoran.
Footage courtesy of Streamsport.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
