Cavan senior football championship final

Cavan Gaels 0-15 Gowna 0-11

By Eamonn Gaffney

CAVAN GAELS fulfilled their pre-match ambitions of another Cavan senior football championship title when they lifted the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the ninth time, and their first since they completed a hattrick of honours from 2003-2005 when they defeated Gowna in the final by 0-15 to 0-11 at Kingspan Breffni Park on Sunday last.

  Over 5,000 who paid gate receipts of E41,000 came to the final in anticipation of a memorable town versus country confrontation. Instead, like most county finals in recent years there was a lack of excitement and tension for the most part with Cavan Gaels always looking like and playing the part of impending champions.

  Gowna who last won the title in 1988 were determined to bridge that nine year gap but it was Cavan Gaels who hit the 'nine' target, inscribing their name on the cup for the ninth time since 1965. This was the fourth meeting of these sides in the final since Gowna came to prominence in 1988 with the score standing at 2-1 in Gowna's favour. The pundits reckoned that Cavan Gaels had the advantage going into the game with the most dangerous group of forwards in the county at the present time.Led by county player Sean Johnston they always looked capable of prising open the Gowna defence, and that this would be the difference in the end.

  How accurate that assumption turned out to be as Cavan Gaels with their slick, fast-moving attacks always looked capable of scoring, especially in the first-half when Gowna were clearly on the back foot, the only surprise being that the Gaels didn't match their outfield skills on the scoreboard.

Blistering pace

  It was on the cards that Cavan Gaels would try and expose the lack of pace in a number of positions in the Gowna side as they set off at a blistering pace to lead by 0-4 to 0-0 after eight minutes. The midfield battle was going to be one of the key areas in which the outcome would be decided with Gowna depending on the experienced Dermot McCabe to provide the leadership. McCabe was expected to be partnered by Mark McKeever but in a switch, McKeever took up a forward role and Fergal Hartin partnered McCabe.

  The kind of start that Cavan Gaels made would undermine the confidence of any side as Sean Johnston with two frees, 3rd and 5th minutes, Kevin Downes 4th and Pauric Smith 8th minute, gave the town team the early platform they needed with a 0-4 to 0-0 lead. It took Gowna ten minutes to open their account from Gerald Pierson but more worrying for them was an injury to Dermot McCabe who seemed to turn on his ankle after some seven minutes but carried on after receiving treatment and sent wide from a free.

  Cavan Gaels still looked much more sharper and threatening and it was 0-5 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter, Micheal Lyng contributing to the scoring in the thirteenth minute. By now, McCabe was in agony on the ground as he aggravated the injury. Team manager Michael McCormack was forced into a change he hadn't reckoned with as McCabe was taken off with fifteen minutes gone and replaced by Shane Briody.

Showed spirit

  Cavan Gaels looked to be cruising at this stage but Gowna didn't allow this setback to upset them unduly and Gowna produced a good spell of pressure with Gerald Pierson sending wide but making amends almost immediately and getting his side's second point in the 17th minute/

  On the trend of play Gowna were fortunate to be within striking distance when trailing by just three points, 0-5 to 0-2 as Cavan Gaels scoring rate dropped appreciably. Sean Johnston from a free eased them further ahead from a free and at this stage Gowna were clearly unsettled and unable to cope with the pressure. Goalkeeper Ronan Bannon in making a save hit his head off the post but made a good recovery. 

  With six minutes of the first-half remaining, Gowna produced their best spell of the half with top-class scores from Pierson and Niall Madden and with five minutes of the half remaining, Cavan Gaels lead was reduced to just two points, 0-6 to 0-4. However Cavan Gaels finished the half on top with three unanswered points from half-back Pauric Smith, a great score, and two more in extra time at the end of the half from Paul O'Donnell and Kevin Downes to lead by 0-9 to 0-4 at half-time.

  In the only minor incident in that first-half, Darren Rabbitt and Gerald Pierson received yellow cards.

Changes

  Gowna needed to step up the tempo and produce much more flair especially in attack, where apart from Pierson and Madden, there was little threat from elsewhere. The team management made a series of switches with Ciaran Brady senior making an impact when introduced as well as Ciaran Brady junior also making his entrance.

  On the Cavan Gaels side Sean Higgins came into the attack and Shane McGlade was delegated to mark Pierson. Whatever was said in the Gowna dressing room at half-time seemed to have the desired effect. Six minutes into the second-half, Cavan Gaels lead had been reduced to three points, Ciaran Brady senior making an immediate impact with a point before Sean Higgins replied with an equally good score.

  Two more Gowna points from Mark McKeever and Ciaran Brady junior reduced the margin to three points and put Gowna right back in contention. The ability of the Cavan Gaels attack to respond however was never more obvious when Sean Higgins and Johnston restored their five point lead with ten minutes gone.

  It had been a remarkable period for the mere fact of the scores came with great rapidity. It was another hill for Gowna to climb but their response was immediate as Mark McKeever, Shane Briody and Gerald Pierson reduced the lead to 0-12 to 0-10. At this stage, Cavan Gaels had brought in Cormac Nelligan but it was a time for Gowna to prove their credentials as they held the high ground.

  Gowna looked really threatening for the first time but crucially they failed to make the most of their brief period on top when they followed with three consecutive wides from Ciaran Brady, Mark McKeever and Pierson.

Turning point

  If these chances had been converted it would have given Gowna a one point lead with ten minutes left. That proved to be the turning point in the game as Cavan Gaels once again raised their performance and through their teamwork and accuracy in attack scored three points without reply from Johnston, two, and Paul O'Donnell to restore their five point advantage with six minutes of normal time remaining.

  Gowna badly needed a goal to help restore confidence but apart from a Pierson point in the 57th minutes, the response was infinitesimal and surely now the title was Cavan Gaels bound.

  There were two incidents as the game moved into injury time involving Gavin Hartin and Sean Higgins and Fergal Hartin and Gavin Duffy but no action was taken. As the final whistle blew the celebrations began.

  It's difficult for any team to beat Cavan Gaels. They have the capacity to turn defence into attack and turn a game in their favour. They were always regarded as the team to beat in the competition and team manager Fermanagh native Malachy O'Rourke, who has been hotly tipped to take over a similar role in the Erne county, admitted that Cavan Gaels experience in key positions, their uncanny teamwork and the ability of the forwards to pick off scores when needed, all combined to successfully overcome Gowna..

Ulster club next target

  The next challenge for the newly-crowned champions is the Ulster club championship where they meet St Eunan's, Letterkenny later this month at Kingspan Breffni Park.

  Cavan Gaels' most prominent players included Eamonn Reilly at centre-half back, Enda King at midfield and Sean Johnston attack. Good support in attack came from Kevin Downes in the first-half and Paul O'Donnell.

  Gowna's over-dependence on Gerald Pierson in attack, and, who, incidentally, received the man of the match award, didn't make for a real confidence booster. The only meaningful support he received came from Niall Madden and half-time sub 37 year old Ciaran Brady. Other contributions came from Mark McKeever and Joseph McLoughlin.

  Cavan Gaels – Eoghan Elliott; Darren Rabbitt, Cathal Collins, Shane McGlade; Gavin Duffy, Eamonn Reilly, Pauric Smith (0-2); Enda King, Nicholas Walsh; Kevin Downes (0-2), Anthony Forde, Micheal Lyng (0-1); Mickey Graham, Sean Johnston (0-6), Paul O'Donnell (0-2). Subs. S. Higgins (0-2) for M. Graham (half-time), Cormac Nelligan for Kevin Downes (43), Dominic Reilly for Paul O'Donnell (58).

  Gowna – Ronan Bannon; Gearoid O'Reilly, Colin Briody, Bernard Sorohan; Joseph McLoughlin, Gavin Hartin, Christy Madden; Dermot McCabe, Mark McKeever (0-2); Ciaran Fitzpatrick, Fergal Hartin, Willie Stevens; Emmet Madden, Niall Madden (0-1), Gerald Pierson (0-6). Subs. Shane Briody (0-1) for Dermot McCabe (injured) 15m Ciaran Brady senior (0-1) for Willie Stephens and Ciaran Brady junior (0-1) for Colin Briody (half-time).

  Referee, Jimmy Galligan, Lacken.

Presentation

  Eamonn Reilly, captain of Cavan Gaels received the cup from Cavan Co Board chairman Phil Smith. Witnessing the moment was Paddy Conaty senior one of the founding members of Cavan Gaels club in 1957. The Cavan Gaels captain said it was a special year for the Cavan Gaels club the fiftieth anniversary of their formation. He wished the club a happy birthday and was proud of the team and panel who were a credit. The panel of players had met for some ninety times during the year and did everything that was asked of them.

  “At a refurbished Terry Coyle Park they began earlier in the year which was a stepping stone to today's victory. We were disheartened last year following our defeat by Mullahoran in the final but we are back today and the Oliver Plunkett Cup is on its way up the Barrack Hill”.

  He thanked the team management especially coach Malachy O'Rourke and club officers and committee for their efforts and their supporters.

  The team captain also praised the victory of the Cavan Gaels minor team who helped to produce “a great double”.

  Gowna's vice-captain Mark McKeever congratulated Cavan Gaels on their victory They had been caught out last year by Mullahoran but came back much stronger this year. “A couple of players out through injury made all the difference and had these players been available, including Dermot, it might well have been a different story.

  He said Cavan Gaels have been there or thereabouts over the last couple of years and showed they were the best team in Cavan. He thanked the Gowna team management for their efforts throughout the year and wished Dermot McCabe a speedy recovery from his injury.

  Co Board Chairman wished Cavan Gaels the best of luck in the forthcoming Ulster club championship where they meet St Eunan's, Letterkenny.

Man of the match award

  The man of the match award when to Gerald Pierson, Gowna.

Post-match reaction

  Cavan team manager Malachy O'Rourke said; “We always expected a close, competitive game from Gowna. Even at half-time at a period when Gowna were without Dermot McCabe, we expected them to rally their forces in the second-half and that is what happened. It was a dangerous position for us as we would have gone in at half-time and probably rested on our laurels and maybe felt we were going to win the game easily and we would have been in trouble.

  “Luckily, the players were ready for the challenge and even though Gowna came back at us strongly we were able to keep going and get a couple of scores at crucial times and ran out winners.

  “We began the game confidently and seemingly cruising at one stage five or six points ahead. We felt looking at Gowna and after playing them previously in the competition that it was important to get a good start as Gowna are good at protecting the lead and maybe slowing the game down. They use their experience which is the right thing to do so we targeted the first fifteen minutes and got off very well.

  “Then when Dermot McCabe went off, Gowna rallied again and came back at us but lucky enough we weathered the storm and came through. It is quality players like Sean Johnston that you need when you are being challenged and when there were only two points between the teams to come to the fore. Sean went up the field and shot two quality scores, and that's what we expect from him.

  Cavan Gaels top scorer Seanie Johnston who had been in the United States for some months and had come back to help the club to their victory said he and the players had one aim in mind and that was to regain the senior championship title. “We were lucky enough to do it due in no small way through the help of a great group of players. After last year's setback there was a hunger to come back and regain the trophy. I was also happy with my own performance but it's all about the panel of players and those who came on during the course of this game. We have been together for some 93 sessions this year and when you put in that kind of effort you will get your due reward. We were lucky enough as Gowna threw everything at us and we are just delighted to get the win.

  “When Dermot McCabe went off there was no danger of complacency after what happened to us last year. Mullahoran got a player sent off just before half-time in last year's final and complacency might have affected Cavan Gaels on that occasion and they took full advantage of it. But we were not going to allow the same thing to happen to us again”.

  As to coming back to play for Cavan, Johnston said anyone with any kind of ambition wants to play with the county team. “That is not up to me at this stage, that is for someone else to decide. I am keen to get involved at county level again. However the club has always been in my inner most thoughts and this was my main goal and now look forward to a good run in the Ulster club championship”.

  Gowna team manager Michael McCormack agreed that there was a stage in the second-half that they could have been on level terms but for three missed chances and despite the absence through injury of Dermot McCabe. “Dermot was a serious loss to us. He has been our leader all year and has been producing great performances. It was unfortunate for him. He had come into the game with an injury and we were aware he had a problem, unfortunately after injuring his ankle early on in the game, he didn't get a chance to warm up properly, so he was a big loss to us.”.

  McCormack said it was a matter of refocusing on our game during the interval and got things sorted out. “Fair play to the players they gave it everything in the second-half and it was just unfortunate that we missed vital scores at the vital time. We had a chance of a goal which on another day it might have gone into the net but that's championship football. It's all about luck at the end of the day”.

  Even though Gowna got to within two points of the Gaels, it was always felt that the Cavan town team had the capacity to pull away if threatened. “They threatened all over the field, we knew that as they are a very good football team and have a very strong panel. But fair play to our players they stuck with them but we just hadn't the rub of the green today. We had a big game against Mullahoran and to come back down and go into a county final on the back of that display was always going to be tough.

  “ I am proud of the players and the effort they put in today. They worked very hard and are devastated in the dressing-room. After we made changes to the team at half-time we enjoyed plenty of possession in the second-half. Niall Madden and Mark McKeever worked very hard and Fergal Hartin on the 40 won a lot of ball as did Ciaran Brady senior when he came on.

Unfortunate

  As to the injuries in the side, McCormack said they had been unfortunate throughout the year when losing their two top midfielders in the county in Patrick Brady and Dermot McCabe. “These two players had been a serious loss to us. It is bad enough to lose one but when you lose too it is difficult to replace them. Once Dermot went off today we knew we were in trouble but the players fought hard”.

  “We fell apart from about ten minutes after Dermot went off in the first-half but then we got it back together and the players worked very hard. If we had taken our chances in the second-half we probably would have been closer to them”.

  23 year old Niall Madden agreed that they came very close in the second-half to getting on parity with Cavan Gaels after the switches had been made. “We got the momentum going in the second-half and got to within two points of the Gaels at one stage. We missed a free and Ciaran Brady hit a post. If those chances had been converted it could have been anyone's game at that stage”.

  Niall said everyone looked up to Dermot McCabe for inspiration and his injury was a big blow to us. “We decided to lift our efforts and while we were beaten we can come out of the game with our heads held high. We came into the competition with a new team and despite the fact that we have been described as an old team have plenty of young talent and hopefully we will be back again next year”.