Castlerahan celebrate with the cup. Pic: Adrian Donohoe.

Keogan: "Experience got us over the line"

Paul Fitzpatrick

A bumper crowd of 8,649 were treated to an absolute thriller in today's SFC final but Castlerahan manager Donal Keogan was in no position to enjoy the spectacle.

“It wasn’t entertaining from where I was!” said the former Cavan boss. 

“We knew that Crosserlough would throw everything at us and they did and in the end, it was probably experience that told out.

“They went six points up and maybe should have held on to that lead but we were very smart on the ball in that last 15 minutes, we started winning breaking ball and our big players stood up in the last 15 minutes and got us over the line.”

Crosserlough, with an average age of 21.5 years, played brilliantly and went 1-12 to 0-9 ahead when 19-year-old James Smith hit the net in the 45th minute but goals from Oisin O’Connell and Man of the Match Sean Brady turned the tie on its head and Castlerahan held on to win the club’s first senior crown.

Keogan paid tribute to the experienced players on his side, some of whom were lining out in a sixth SFC final.

“Our leaders, the likes of Cian Mackey, Paul Smith, Ronan Flanagan, they all used the ball very smartly in the last 15 minutes, they didn’t panic and that’s the sign of a team with experience. And I think the fear of losing another one helped get them across the line too,” he said.

For Mackey – who has now won every ‘domestic’ medal from U12 level right through in league and championship football – it was a prize well worth waiting for.

“We just decided to play our game,” said the 31-year-old. 

“We didn’t worry about our opposition, we did it today for 15 minutes in each half and that’s the real difference. We believe we are the best team in Cavan and we proved it today, last year the Gaels were and the year before that Ramor were and that’s why we won and now we have finally done it too.”

Next up for Castlerahan is a clash with new Derry champions Coleraine in the Ulster Club SFC.

"They are new champions too and will have a couple of days celebrating to do as will we and then it's back to a bit of work and hopefully we'll be able to turn them over in Ulster."