Cavan Club Championship Finals

Quinn Building Products Junior Championship Final

Drumgoon 2-15 Kingscourt 1-8

First up was the junior final with last year’s beaten finalists Drumgoon back again against Kingscourt. Hats off to Kingscourt for reaching this final, having only been competing for two years at adult level and it shows all the hard work at underage over the last few years is finally coming to fruition.

Drumgoon put their experience from last year to good use as they started the strongest running at Kingscourt from the start. However Kingscourt had a couple of early half chances on goal  that just didn’t fall for them. Drumgoon were stronger in the middle thrid and managed to cut out a lot of ball in that area. Meanwhile the Kingscourt forwards were very dangerous and looked like scoring every time the got in close to the Drumgoon goal, but it didn’t happen enough for Kingscourt as Drumgoon went in at the break in front on a scoreline of 0-11 to 0-4.

At half time Kingscourt moved there full-forward and county panelist Nicole Flemming out to mid -field and this had the desired effect as Kingscourt got on a lot more ball but despite the best efforts of Fleming and Amy Rooney they could not break Drumgoon down. However mid way through the second half they got their first goal chance but they could not finish it. Five miniutes later the ball was in the Kingscourt net after Selina Lynch reacted quickest and finished a good Drumgoon move to the net. At this stage it looked like Drumgoon were going to win easy as they got the next few scores but Kingscourt kept battling and got a few scores on the board.  Then with sixteen minutes left the game lit up as county minor star Dara Kieran riffled to the roof of Clare McCafferys net for a Kingscourt goal. This gave the considerable Kingscourt crowd a big lift and with them in full voice Kingscourt got another score through Amy Rooney. But just as it looked like Kingscourt were going to claw away back into the game the player of the match and Drumgoons Orla Smith who had an  awesome game, kicked three good points without reply and this settled Drumgoon down and with six minutes left to play Drumgoon killed the game off with a second goal. There was time for more scores on both sides but Drumgoon were the champions at the end.

Drumgoon: Claire McCaffrey, Cora McBride, Lisa Murray, Aisling McDermott, Aoife McGorry, Tracey Cochrane, Niamh Farrell, Siobhan McGorry , Fiona Murray, Denise Smith (0-3) , Muireann McDermott, Selina Lynch(1-1), Orla Smith (0-8), Jordan Crowe(1-2), Michelke Murray (0-1)
Subs used: Margert Smith, siobhan smith, Roisin Smith, Michelle Smith, Cliona Farrell

Kingscourt: Christine Farrelly, Aoife Mcardle, Graine Faulkner, Aideen Bennett, Sinead McCabe, Aine Reilly , Jenny Dillion, Ashling Callan(0-2), Dara Kieran(1-0), Ciara Crosby, Amy Rooney(0-4), Leah Gray, Rachel Gargan(0-1), Nicole Flemming(0-2), Martina Power
Subs used: Majella Cunnigham, AshlingMcMahon, Katie Oates, Maggie Sexton.

Kiernans Service Stations Intermediate Championship Final

Killygarry 6-10 Drumlane 2-9

The intermediate final was next up Between Killygarry and Drumlane. Despite what the scoreline might suggest this was a close affair between two fairly even teams. The first score of the game was a well taken point from Drumlane full forward Blathnaid Sheridan but Killygarry had the perfect response when Geraldine Smith  finished well into the Drumlane net to give Killygarry the perfect start. Both teams traded scores as Killygarry struck another goal through Geraldine Smith, but near the end of the first half Drumlane scored their only goal of the half when Bronagh Sheridan hit the net from the penalty spot. Indeed it was close at half time with only a goal separating them at the break on a score line of 2-5 to 1-5. The Drumlane forwards caused trouble for Killygarry in the first half so at half time Killygarry sprung their former county player Ciara Keane and it was her presence in the back line that steadied the ship for Killygarry.

Killygarry had a great start to the half as they got two goals with virtually the first two attacks of the half. The first was a brilliant Niamh O’Shea finish after excellent work by Caítríona Smith. This looked to have buried Drumlane but both teams traded points and Drumlane continued to work hard and remained patient. Their hard work was rewarded when county star Bronagh Sheridan produced a moment of magic from a 20 meter free and with seven Killygarry players on the line Bronagh somehow found the top corner of the Killygarry net to give Drumlane a life line. Drumlane got the next point and found themselves only five points behind. This gave them the boost they needed and it looked like a come back was on the cards as they were unfortunate not to get another goal.

 

However in the space of  five minutes the game was well and truly over as Killygarry scored a brilliant 2-1 to kill game with both goals coming from former All Star Grainne Smith after great work on both occassions from captain and county panelist Caítríona Smith. With 5 minutes remaining both teams got  their final points and  player of the match Gearldine Smith capped a superb performance with Killygarrys last score of the game. Drumlanes Bronagh Sheridan finished with a sensational 2-4 and a fine individual performance but was still on the losing side as Killygarry put in an excellent team display to win the match.

Killygarry: Elaine Walsh, Eimer Gallen, Gemma Cullen, Megan Denning, Paula Reilly, Roisin Lee, Jenna McConnell, Edel Mc Clean, Rachel Talbot (1-0), Courtney Rapple McDowell (0-1), Louise Smith (0-1), Caítríona Smith (0-1), Geraldine Smith (2-4), Grainne Smith (2-2), Niamh O’Shea (1-1)

Subs used : Ciara Keane, Aisling McCormack, Amanda Tierney, Eimer Bartley, Holly Fitzpatrick.

Drumlane: Ciara Maguire, Ciara Reilly, Helen Corcoran, Maria Brady, Kiera Ward, Ciara Fitzpatrick, Micaela Fitzpatrick, Bronagh Sheridan (2-4), Leona Bourke, Sarah Moran, Aine Reilly, Siofra Fitzpatrick (0-1), Glenda Finnegan, Blathnaid Sheridan, Aisling Bourke

Subs used: Sarah King, Sinead McDonald, Irene Monahan

Breffni Mushrooms Senior Championship Final

Lurgan 5-5  Lacken 1-13

The last game of the day was the eagerly anticipated senior final and it was a repeat of last year’s championship final between Lurgan and Lacken, with Lacken the reigning champions.

In the first 15 minutes it looked like an upset was on the cards as Lurgan raced into an early lead. They got an early goal through Aoife Maguire which was followed up straight away with another point and quickly after another goal when Claragh O Reilly cleverly finished into the net. This was the start that Lurgan needed. However Lacken didn’t panic and worked hard to stay in the game. They managed a few unanswered points and this brought them back into it. A Catriona Leddy goal against the run of play gave them a big lift and with Shona King and Roisin O’Keefe in great form they clawed their way back into it and Lurgan went in at the break ahead by the minimum on a score line of Lurgan 2-3 Lacken 1-5.

 

Lacken had an early chance in the second half to level the game however they kicked the free wide. Lurgan’s first attack of the second half yielded a goal when young Laura Keogan finished with a goal in the Lacken net after great build up play by Fiona Skelly. This goal restored Lurgan’s self belief and it took Lacken ten minutes into the second to get their first score when veteran Rosie Crowe rolled back the years with a well taken point. Lacken kept battling and used their vast experience to try and get a hold of the game and with great scores from Roisin O’Keefe and Rosie Crowe it looked like Lacken were starting to find a way back into the game but then came a killer blow for them as Laura Keogan finished to the net for her second goal of the game and Lurgan pushed on. With Claragh O’Reilly working hard inside for Lurgan  they  tagged on a few more scores and the icing on the cake came near the end for them when Catherine Dolan scored a late goal that her performance deserved. Lacken will be disappointed that they have relinquished their crown and in an ominous sign for the rest of the county this young Lurgan side put in a fantastic performance to dethrone the kingpins of Cavan Ladies Football.

Lurgan: Evelyn Baugh, Ann Hanrathy Lynch, Nicola Brady, Ciara Brady, Fiona Murphy, Emma McDermott, Sarah Nulty, Ciara Brady, Aoife Maguire (1-0), Edel Gaffney, Vanessa Brady, Catherine Dolan(1-0), Laura Keoghan (2-1), Claragh O Reilly (1-4), Edith Lynch (0-1)
Subs used: Fiona Skelly, Amy Gaynor, Niamh Daly, Juile Cahill

Lacken:Elaine McCabe, Ann Maire Moynagh, Niamh Mc Inerney, Linda Murtagh, Josephine Maguire, Joanne Moore, Aishling Mc Inerney, Rosie Crowe(0-2),  Sinead O’Sullivan, Shona King(0-1), Roisin O’Keefe (0-7), Aoife Brady (0-1), Debbie Gaffney, Erinn Galligan(0-1), Catriona Leddy
Subs used: Eimear Bogue, Leanne Leady, Eimear Brady