Gowna return to first final since 2007 with stylish win

SFC semi-final

Gowna 3-12

Kingscourt Stars 0-11

Gowna have returned to the Senior Championship final for the first time since 2007 after they dismissed a disappointing Kingscourt in the first of the semi-finals at Kingspan Breffni on Sunday.

The Dermot McCabe-Fintan Reilly managed Gowna men were highly impressive, continuing their penchant for scoring goals and defending superbly, with Ryan McGahern and Conor Madden excellent at opposite ends of the field.

All over the field, Gowna, who came into the match as favourites with the bookmakers to win the championship, had strong performances and Kingscourt, who suffered a blow when centre-back Paddy Meade went off injured in the first half, had no answer.

At half-time, Gowna held a slender two-point lead at 1-6 to 0-7, having played against a strong wind and things were looking ominous for the east Cavan side.

Kingscourt, ultilising Joe Dillon, Cian Shekleton and Peter Corrigan in a three-man inside line, looked to deliver the ball long and early where possible and were happy to take on long-range shots.

Proceedings were cagey; Gowna, against the breeze, ran the ball as much as they could and it suited their skilful direct runners. They opened the scoring after 20 seconds through Ryan Brady but the Stars soon levelled with a point from Kevin Curtis after a Corrigan lay-off.

Ryan Donohoe, with an outside-the-boot effort, and Cormac Brady, with a rebound after James Farrelly saved brilliantly from Conor Brady, made it 0-3 to 0-1 but Kingscourt were back on level terms again when Dillon pointed with the left after a good run by Curtis and Barry Reilly, in traffic, swung one over from 45 metres.

A lovely score from Corrigan was cancelled out when Conor Casey finished off a good move at the other end as the sides went into the first water break level at 0-4 apiece.

A great score from distance by Padraig Faulkner nudged the Stars ahead for the first time on 18 minutes but Gowna, who have made a habit of scoring goals this season, raised a green flag when Casey and Robbie Fitzpatrick combined and Conor Madden buried a finish low to the net with 19 minutes on the clock.

Kingscourt had the ball in the net at the other end through Dillon but ref Joe McQuillan ruled it out for an infringement on the square.

A 55-metre Barry Reilly free made it a one-point game in the 29th minute but Conor Madden and Cian Madden both registered quickfire points before Corrigan sent over an eye-catching score to leave two between them at the midway point.

Gowna’s shooting was about all they did wrong in the second half. They kicked seven wides in that period but moved the ball well and at pace and hunted in packs.

As a heavy deluge of rain fell, the Stars drew level with frees from Cian Shekleton and Barry Reilly by the 37th minute but their cause wasn’t helped when Curtis was sent to the sin bin.

Gowna kicked on, scoring 1-4 unanswered to put the game to bed. A lovely left-footed Conor Madden point got them going before Fitzpatrick and Cian Madden added frees and Conor Madden booted one over from play from 40 metres.

A 44-metre mark from Oisin Pierson made it 1-11 to 0-9 with 10 minutes remaining and, in the 54th minute, the game was put to bed when, after a smart Farrelly save from Cormac Brady, Tiarnan Madden finished low to the net.

Barry Reilly (free) and Conor Madden traded scores; Reilly had another from a placed ball but Gowna supplied the finishing touch to a good afternoon’s work when, after a well-worked move, Conor Brady tore on to the ball at pace and planted it in the roof of the net.

That put the tin hat on it as Gowna marched on to the final; there were joyous scenes among their supporters as they returned to the big day, where they will meet Ramor United in a novel decider which is sure to draw a huge crowd to HQ on Sunday, November 7.

Kingscourt: James Farrelly, Cathal McKeon, Kevin Curtis (0-1), Killian Farrelly, Shane Duffy, Paddy Meade, Philip Tinnelly, Padraig Faulkner (0-1), Sean Burke, Barry Tully, Peter Corrigan (0-2), John Oates, Cian Shekleton (0-1f), Joe Dillon (0-1), Barry Reilly (0-5, 4f)

Subs: Noel McIntyre for Meade (20 mins, inj.), Ryan Kennedy for Burke (41), Christy McGowan for Shekleton (49), Shane Gray for K Farrelly (49), Oisin Cunningham for Curtis (60)

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Cormac Brady (0-1), Mark McKeever, Fionán Brady, Ryan McGahern, Ryan Brady, Tiarnan Madden (1-0), Ryan Donohoe (0-1), Conor Brady (1-0), Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-1f), Oisin Pierson (0-1m), Cian Madden (0-2, 1f), Raymond Keogh, Conor Madden (1-4), Conor Casey

Subs: Aaron Brady for Casey (59 mins), TJ Fitzpatrick for Keogh (60), Shane Harton for Pierson (60)

Ref: Joe McQuillan