Crossmolina win promotion to the Mayo Super League

Crossmolina will be playing Super League football at Abbeyview next season as they defeated Ballinrobe Town 3-0 in the Promotion/Relegation Play-Off, at Milebush Park.

Crossmolina made the brighter start to the contest and the north Mayo side took the lead on nine minutes. Goodhope Mutendebvure won possession just inside the box and delivered a cross to Richie Shelley and the latter applied a simple close-range finish.

Ballinrobe’s Jonathan Lawrence battled for his team-mates cause throughout the joust and he could well have levelled matters on 15 minutes, but after cutting inside the area his angled drive skimmed wide.

Chances were at a premium during the first half, yet Ballinrobe almost made an explosive start to the second period, when Gary Mellett Connolly threaded an excellent ball into the path of Liam Kilcullen, but the latter saw his effort trickle wide.

Ballinrobe continued to battle but couldn’t turn their dominance of possession into the equaliser, and Crossmolina added a vital second goal on 71 minutes, when Martin Deady’s audacious long-range chip found the target.

On 86 minutes, Crossmolina galvanized their lead when substitute Shane Hennigan, who was barely two minutes on the pitch, rustled the back of the net.

Crossmolina closed out proceedings impressively as the game petered out to its conclusion.

Ballinrobe Town must now rebuild and give some of their younger players invaluable experience in what will be a highly competitive Premier Division next season.