Elphin fought back but fell short in their bid to land the Connacht intermediate championship.
The Roscommon champions fought back from a four point, half-time deficit but fell to a sucker goal in the end as Crossmolina won out 1-7 to 1-6.
Crossmolina moved into a five point to no score lead by the 21st minute. Three points from James Maheady (1m) and two from Fionan Duffy (1f) moving the Galway side clear.
A Fintan Cregg free had Elphin’s first score of the day three minutes before half-time. However a Duffy free saw Crossmolina lead six points to one at half-time.
Elphin opened the second-half the best way possible through an Aaron Brady free. However, Crossmolina seemed to put the game to bed a minute later when Niall Coggins found the net.
Coggins taking full advantage of a mistake in the Elphin defence to make it a seven point game. 1-6 to two points.
Indeed, Elphin didn’t give in. Three Fintant Cregg frees brought it back to a four point game as the match entered the third quarter. A Gavin Murray black card didn’t dissuade Elphin.
Another Cregg free made it a three-point game as the game headed toward injury time. However, Elphin didn’t take their chances.
Duffy sent over an insurance point for Crossmolina in the first minute of injury-time. Eventhough John Finnerty converted a late penalty for Elphin it wasn’t enough after Conor Lenehan saw the line for a second yellow.
Crossmolina claimed the Connacht senior title by one point, 1-7 to 1-6.
