Crossmolina Deel Rovers captain Mikie Loftus dedicated his side’s All-Ireland Intermediate Football Championship triumph to Róisín Cryan with a poignant speech on the steps of the Hogan Stand in Croke Park.
A last-minute penalty from Conor Loftus made the difference and sparked emotional celebrations. The Mayo men surrounded Loftus at the final whistle, having come from behind to defeat Derry Champions Ballinderry.
It was a hugely touching occasion on Jones’ Road, with goal hero Loftus having lost his fiancee Róisín a fortnight ago.
“This victory is obviously bittersweet,” said the captain.
“Róisín Cryan was an amazing person and we as a team are lucky to have known her.
“Róisín was there celebrating after the good times last year, and throughout the many bad times.
“Róisín would hate this attention, but I want to dedicate this victory to Róisín Cryan. I know she’s looking down on us smiling today.
“Crossmolina is a small, proud town, and it’s been overwhelming to see how the community can come together in the good times and the bad times.”
Conor Loftus strikes Crossmolina’s late winner
However, the game almost slipped through their grasp. After shipping five Ballinderry points in a row, Niall Coggins scored a point before Crossmolina were awarded a stoppage-time penalty.
A tap over free would have taken the showdown to extra-time but Loftus tucked his shot into the bottom corner of the net to win with the last kick.
Conor Loftus headed straight for the tunnel when the final whistle sounded but manager Brian Benson paid tribute to his centre-back.
“The way he has taken penalties, all his life, especially in the last year or two, he’s kicked a good few penalties,” said Benson.
“They usually end up in the back of the net. Thankfully today that’s worked.”
It capped off a second-half that ebbed and flowed. A 50th minute point from James Maheady had Crossmolina 0-11 to 0-8 and ticking towards glory.
Ballinderry then backed them into another corner with five points inside six minutes and Crossmolina’s title hopes looked all but gone.
“We’ve been in this position a few times this year where we’ve been kind of against the cosh,” added Benson, in his third season at the helm. “A testament to this team is the character in just staying at it and fight for the last minute. That’s what we did.
“I suppose it’s been a rollercoaster of a year.
Conor Loftus gets away from Ballinderry’s Charlie Crozier
“Obviously, we’ve had lots of downs. Fionán [Duffy] and Fearghal and Darragh in the backroom team, losing their dad.
“Tommy Walsh has lost his dad too and obviously with Conor now losing his fiancée, we’ve had a lot of bad days.
“In that, it’s probably galvanised the group.
“When you go down the straight in some of these games and it’s tight, this is where the group comes from, that steel and that togetherness that we have within the group.
“The 37 players, they’re absolutely phenomenal. It’s the tightest group I’ve ever seen; in any team environment I’ve ever been involved in.”
Ballinderry’s Eoin Devlin is left gutted at the final whistle
Scorers – Crossmolina: C Loftus 1-1; F Duffy 0-4 (4f); N Coggins 0-3; J Maheady 0-2 (1f); K Mulhern, L Loftus 0-1 each.
Ballinderry: C Crozier (2f), C O’Neill (2f), R Bell 0-3 each; D McKinless 0-2; R Forbes, T Rocks 0-1 each.
Crossmolina: JP Mulhern; D Fox, K Mulhern, M Gordetskyy; A Goggins, C Loftus, M Loftus; D Syron, J Flynn; D Coggins, J Maheady, N Coggins; D Walsh, P Leddy, F Duffy. Subs: L Loftus for Syron (27), P Loftus for JP Mulhern (inj 45), C Carolan for Walsh (57), S Duffy for Leddy (59), K Ferris for M Loftus (65).
Ballinderry: B McKinless; A Mullan, O Duffin, R O’Neill; E Devlin, G McKinless, R Forbes; E Rocks, C Crozier; T Rocks, C O’Neill, S McCann; D Lawn, R Bell, S Coleman. Subs: Daniel McKinless for Coleman (38), M Smyth for Lawn (49), J Bell for Crozier (52), O Mullan for Rocks (65).
Referee: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary).