Crossmolina Deel Rovers this afternoon swept past Leinster champions Caragh of Kildare to book their place in next weekend’s All-Ireland Intermediate club football championship final. In freezing conditions at Pearse Park, Longford, they were dominant from start to finish and won this All-Ireland semi-final by 1-12 to 0-6.

Such was the extent of the freezing conditions that there was some doubt even an hour before throw-in if the game would go ahead at all today. On the drive down from Dublin the fields were white and bare and there was frost on the grass at Pearse Park too, though, by the time I arrived shortly before 1pm, crowds were streaming in and it was obvious the match was indeed going ahead.

The game started cautiously, with both sides seeming to be looking to get comfortable with the arctic underfoot conditions. Eventually on six minutes James Maheady drove over the opening score for Crossmolina, thus setting the game’s narrative.

The same player was involved in his team’s second score, offloading to Diarmuid Coggins who bagged a neat point. Caragh got motoring soon after, though, and two points in as many minutes brought the game back to stalemate.

Those opening exchanges dispensed with, Crossmolina soon established a dominance in the contest that they wouldn’t subsequently relinquish. A scramble for possession in Caragh’s square saw one of their players touch the ball on the ground and the ref spread his arms for the penalty. Conor Loftus stepped up and buried the spot kick emphatically.

Soon after Conor nailed a cracking score off the outside of the boot. Jordan Flynn then got in the act, turning over a ball out the field before driving on and booming it over.

Given the conditions, a five-point lead was a big one. Caragh did, though, give themselves a glimmer of hope by snatching two points on the spin to cut the gap to three at the break.

Crossmolina fairly opened the jets after the break, however, scoring five points without reply and shutting out their opponents until eight minutes from the finish. This combination of attacking prowess allied to resolute defending saw them sew up victory well before the final whistle sounded.

Fionan Duffy bagged the first score after the resumption and then Jordan Flynn knocked over two in quick succession. Fionan Duffy (a free), Patrick Leddy and Fionan Duffy again added further scores, stretching Deel Rovers’ lead to nine points.

Caragh finally got the umpires working with an Eoghan O’Haire free and Dan Murray followed this up with one from play. Crossmolina had the final say, however, with further scores from sub Mikie Loftus and, in injury time, the grace note from MOTM Conor Loftus as Crossmolina ran out 1-12 to 0-6 winners.

Crossmolina now have a very tight turnaround ahead of next weekend’s All-Ireland final. In that Croke Park decider they’ll face Ballinderry who this afternoon saw off the formidable challenge of Kerry’s Austin Stacks in the other IFC semi-final. That one finished 0-11 to 0-7 in favour of the Derry team.

We’ll have a Final Whistle podcast show, recorded at Pearse Park, up on Patreon a bit later on. This features Crossmolina players Jordan Flynn and Conor Loftus as well as manager Brian Benson.