Loftus earns Crossmolina emotional All-Ireland club title
Conor Loftus scored an injury-time penalty to clinch Crossmolina a dramatic and emotional 1-12 to 0-13 win over Derry side Ballinderry in the All-Ireland Intermediate Club Football final at Croke Park.The game was scheduled to take place two weeks ago but was postponed following the tragic death of Róisín Cryan, the fiancee of Loftus.It was fitting that the Mayo player would have the final say as he tucked home a penalty with the final kick of the match under remarkable pressure, and he was swarmed by his team-mates at the full-time whistle. The game went ahead following consultations with the Cryan and Loftus families, there was nothing to split the sides at half-time at six points apiece.Crossmolina held a 0-3 to 0-1 lead in the early stages as Fionan Duffy's opener was cancelled out by Ryan Bell, but Loftus and Kevin Mulhern landed scores to nudge the Mayo side in front. Charlie Crozier responded before James Maheady restored Crossmolina's lead, but Ballinderry hit back once more through Bell, who pointed after a goal chance. The Derry outfit went ahead for the first time through Crozier's superb score and a Conor O'Neill point, but Crossmolina levelled before the half-time break through Duffy.Ballinderry struck first after the restart through a free from Crozier but Crossmolina immediately responded through Niall Goggins, who went for the point from eight yards out, before Tiarnan Rocks and Lorcan Loftus exchanged scores.Crossmolina nudged back ahead through Duffy's free and moved two clear for the first time since the 10th minute when Goggins fisted over. Maheady's well-taken score moved the Mayo champions three clear with nine minutes to play, but Ballinderry immediately hit back with scores through Ruairi Forbes and Daniel McKinless.Bell's superb score brought Shamrocks level, and the game was seemingly turned on its head when Conor O'Neill put Ballinderry back in front with three minutes remaining.Daniel McKinless kicked another well-taken score to put the Ulster champions two ahead as the clock ticked into injury time.Crossmolina had a glorious chance to find the back of the Ballinderry net when Goggins blazed over the bar from close range. However, there was still time for the dramatic late twist as Crossmolina were awarded a penalty deep into injury time and Ballinderry goalkeeper McKinless was shown a red card. After a tragic couple of weeks for the entire Crossmolina community, Loftus tucked home the decisive kick for an emotional win.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Tyrone All-Ireland winner focused on county and not AFL after being named U20 Player of the Year
The Red Hands ace was outstanding as they defended their All-Ireland crown, scoring 2-4 in the Final against Louth including two goals in the second half. It continues a remarkable run for McElholm, who starred in the All-Ireland Minor Final for Tyrone and won the Hogan Cup with Omagh CBS, captaining the side to the title in 2023. And while the Loughmacrory teen is not shutting the door completely on an AFL career in the future, especially after impressing at the Draft Combine two years ago and spending time on loan with Fremantle last July, he is not taking his eye off his county role. "If the opportunity came, I'd definitely look into it because I was out twice and really enjoyed it out there,' said McElholm. "I really enjoyed the whole experience. But just for the meantime, the focus is on Tyrone and what happens there. "I did the combine over there, when I went out two years ago. It's the 2km run, the 20m sprint, the jump and agility test. I actually did well in the 20m sprint, I got top-10, ninth. Probably the rest of my scores weren't as good as the sprint. "But that's what they really look into, your physical attributes. Because they know when you're over there, you'll have the skill base to pick up on their game and learn it." McElholm admits he has kept a close eye on Fremantle since his time there but that it would be hard to walk away from Tyrone now when he is so close to cracking the senior team. The impressive youngster has come on as a substitute in all three of the county's Championship games thus far but he could be in line for his first start against Cavan this weekend, when a win would see Tyrone top their All-Ireland group and reach the Quarter-Finals. "It definitely would (be tough to walk away). It wouldn't be a straightforward decision,' said McElholm. "The two Canavans and Petey (Peter Harte) and Darren (McCurry), they're boys who you watched growing up. Now playing with them and learning different tips and skills, it's a complete pleasure. "I'd obviously have to think about it and stuff. I just really enjoyed the opportunity and obviously if things weren't going well, you're always only a flight away from home.' Reflecting on the Cavan game, the Sigerson Cup Semi-Finalist continued: "It's a knock-out game, that's the way you have to look at it. It's an elimination game now. You have to prepare for it as if it's your last chance basically. The main thing is getting a performance. "Cavan showed great glimpses of what they can do against Mayo and Donegal. They're going to be very up for it, especially after us beating them in the Ulster Championship." McElholm was one of six Tyrone players to be named in the Under-20s Team of the Year as the All-Ireland champions, unsurprisingly, dominated the nominations, with runners-up Louth having four on the panel, Mayo two and Kerry one. Goalkeeper Conan McGarvey, full-back Joey Clarke, corner-back Caolan Donnelly, centre-back Callum Daly and corner forward Ruairí McCullagh were all named in the team, with Donegal pair Kevin Muldoon and Seanan Carr also included. Under-20s Team of the Year: Conan McGarvey (Tyrone); Padraic Tinnelly (Louth), Joey Clarke (Tyrone), Caolan Donnelly (Tyrone); Tadhg McDonnell (Louth), Callum Daly (Tyrone), Hugh O'Loughlin (Mayo); Sean Callaghan (Louth), James Maguire (Louth); Kevin Muldoon (Donegal), Eoin McElholm (Tyrone), Seanan Carr (Donegal); Ruairí McCullagh (Tyrone), Tomás Kennedy (Kerry), Darragh Beirne (Mayo)
Metro
17 hours ago
- Metro
Tottenham star reacts to Frank rumours after 'strange' Postecoglou sacking
Tottenham defender Micky van de Ven says he found Ange Postecoglou's dismissal 'strange' given the Australian proved his 'winning mentality' by ending the club's 17-year wait for a trophy. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy decided to bring Postecoglou's tenure to an abrupt halt last Friday, just 16 days after the north London outfit edged out Manchester United in an all-English Europa League final. The scrappy 1-0 victory secured Tottenham a place in the Champions League for the first time since the 2022/23 campaign and Postecoglou would no doubt have been looking forward to leading his side into Europe's premier competition next season. But Spurs' woeful domestic campaign – their worst-ever in the Premier League – ultimately cost Postecoglou his job and the search is ramping up for his successor. Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has emerged as the overwhelming favourite to take over the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Spurs' talks with Brentford are progressing at a pace. It's understood Tottenham will have to pay a compensation fee of £10million to get a deal over the line for Frank. Asked for his thoughts on Postecoglou's sacking after the Netherlands' 8-0 thrashing of Malta, Van de Van told Voetbal Zone: 'That was ultimately a choice from the club. 'We, as players, have little to say about that. Of course, he is the first coach in a long time who has won a trophy has had success at Spurs. So if you look at it that way, it is of course a strange choice. 'It is a choice from the club about which we have little to say, so we will see what happens now.' Van de Ven admits it looks likely that Frank will be named as Postecoglou's replacement in due course. 'Of course, we see some rumours about the Brentford head coach, who it will probably be,' he added. 'So yes, a choice from the club about which we have little to say.' The Dutch centre-back believes Tottenham players must accept much of the responsibility for their 17th-placed finish which led to Postecoglou being fired. 'I think many of the players got along with him well and, of course, what I say is that he is the first coach who has brought success to Spurs in a long time,' he continued. 'That also shows that he has a certain quality. It also means that he has a winning mentality, 100 per cent. More Trending 'From that, you would of course say that it is strange that he was fired. 'What we have shown in the Premier League is, of course, unacceptable. That would, of course, have been a factor, but that was not only down to the coach.' The leading candidate to replace Postecoglou, Frank, is said to be eager to push through a switch to north London and has reportedly told the club to make Bryan Mbeumo their first summer signing. But Mbeumo is also attracting strong interest from Manchester United this summer, with the Red Devils lodging a second offer worth more than £60m for the Cameroon forward in recent days. Should Spurs have kept Ange Postecoglou? For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 'I would love that' – Liverpool urged to hijack £60m Manchester United transfer MORE: Chelsea banish four players from Club World Cup squad but hand chance to young star MORE: Benjamin Sesko's manager tells him to reject one club after Arsenal and Man Utd talks
Rhyl Journal
a day ago
- Rhyl Journal
Emma Raducanu ‘really feeling it' at Queen's as she eases into second round
The 22-year-old, who secured a first doubles victory with partner Katie Boulter on Monday, revealed before the tournament – the first time Queen's has hosted women's tennis in 52 years – that she was still managing ongoing back issues, playing down expectations for this WTA 500 event which boasts a £1million prize pot. And though she insisted her hopes were 'staying low', Raducanu was in fine form on centre court – on Monday inaugurated as the Andy Murray Arena – where she dispatched Bucsa in just one hour and four minutes. Sharp, clean, clinical 😮💨 Just a few words to describe @EmmaRaducanu's 6-1, 6-2 performance against Bucsa.#HSBCChampionships — wta (@WTA) June 10, 2025 'I must say I was quite locked in today,' Raducanu said on court, later telling a press conference: 'I think the biggest thing I'm proud of is just the way I handled the situation. 'But, I mean, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous before the match. The way I overcame that I think is really, for me, a great achievement. 'I think I built my way into the match. I didn't necessarily feel (locked in) from the get-go, but I think as the match went on, I definitely got that. I was really feeling it.' Those back niggles have not entirely disappeared, but Raducanu was clearly enjoying herself. She added: 'I play my best when my personality is put on the court and I can express myself, and I feel like sometimes when I've been constrained to play a certain way, it hasn't necessarily worked, and I just need to be free and expressive and then certain moments of creativity can come up. 'I mean, it's easier said than done to be yourself, especially when you're on such a big stage, but for sure when I'm playing freely, when I'm swinging and taking on chances, that is when I'm at my best. Yeah, then I think as that happened today, I could kind of relax into it and more and more could come up.' Raducanu faces Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova in the round of 16 on Thursday, but next up is round two of the doubles at midday on Wednesday, where she and British number one Boulter will take on Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe, who knocked out the other all-British duo, Sonay Kartal and Jodie Burrage, earlier in the afternoon. British number one Boulter also punched her ticket to the second round but in much grittier fashion, battling to a 7-6 (4) 1-6 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic. 'When I walked out it actually surpassed what I thought it would feel like when I kind of imagined it,' said Boulter, adding: 'I think it's very easy to get caught up in just trying to get your first grass court match, also coming to such an historic venue as well, which holds a lot of purpose and a lot of familiar feelings when I've come here before.' Earlier, Heather Watson set up a second-round meeting with fourth seed and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina after upsetting world number 27 Yulia Putintseva 6-4 6-3. It was not to be for British wildcard Fran Jones, however, who was defeated in straight sets 6-2 6-4 by American McCartney Kessler.
