Stars advance to U20 Division 2 decider

U20 Division 2 Championship semi-final

Kingscourt Stars 4-13

Cavan Gaels 2-8

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni 3G

Kingscourt Stars advanced to the final of the U20 Division 2 Football Championship with this 11-point win over a game but over-matched and understrength Cavan Gaels.

The Terry Coyle Park lads were well in the match at half-time, at which stage they trailed by just a point (2-5 to 2-4) but the Stars took over after the break, running in 2-9 with an impressive display full of smart attacking football at pace.

The fast 3G surface suited Kingscourt, who moved the ball quickly out of defence with the foot and had the advantage on speed up front.

The Gaels opened the scoring with a goal from their best player on the day, Emmanuel Shehu. He gathered at midfield and tore through the centre before finishing low to the corner to get his side off to the perfect start.

Michael McKeon landed two (one free and a well-taken effort from play) before Shehu replied with two frees of his own and when his brother, Favour, split the posts from play with a terrific point from the wing, the Gaels were 1-2 to 0-2 ahead with eight minutes played.

McKeon responded with another white flag for the Stars and they hit the front on 10 minutes when Paddy Power gathered a centre from McKeon and palmed to the net.

Paul Surlis and Emmanuel Shehu both scored from play as the end-to-end nature of proceedings continued. The Gaels moved four clear again when Aamer Essajee cut in from the right wing and played a one-two before finding the net in the 18th minute.

That was as good as it got for them, though, as Kingscourt took charge before the break and would go on to control the second half.

A McKeon free was followed by a point from Cormac Yore before the big midfielder took a pass from Liam Sherlock and finished calmly with the left foot to the bottom corner.

And when the impressive McKeon landed another just before half-time, it was enough to give Kingscourt a slender lead at the interval.

McKeon repeated the trick on the resumption before laying on a point for Power after a sweeping move following a turnover in the full-back line.

Emmanuel Shehu hit back with a free but Power pointed again (gathering a rebound after Joe McCormack’s effort was saved) – and then came the crucial score.

An excellent move was started by Yore and involved McKeon, Cian Ward and Joe McCormack, with Yore continuing his run through the centre and rising highest to palm home.

That made it 3-8 to 2-5 and Kingscourt pulled away thereafter. Sherlock and Joe McCormack pointed either side of a Shehu free.

Cailum McNamara sent over a right-footed effort for the Gaels but it was quickly cancelled out by Power. Shehu and McKeon (free) traded scores, with Donncha McNamara registering for Cavan Gaels as the clock ticked down.

Kingscourt rounded off a good afternoon’s work when they scored a great goal, McKeon sending a perfect ball to Joe McCormack, whose finish was calmness personified.

Emmanuel Shehu had the final say with a free for Cavan Gaels but they couldn’t close the gap any further and Kingscourt deservedly marched on to the final, where they will meet Cootehill.

This was an impressive all-round performance by the Stars, with the classy Caoimhin Magee, Cormac Yore and Michael McKeon among those to stand out.

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin, Lorcan Gogarty, Michael Pienaar, Caoimhin Magee, Ryan Carolan, Aaron Shekleton, Damien McCormack, Cormac Yore (2-1), Cian Ward, Paddy Power (1-3), Joe McCormack(1-1), Michael McKeon (0-7, 3f), Liam Sherlock (0-1)

Subs: John McKeon, Noah McCormack

Cavan Gaels: Liam Rowley, Kane Dowd, Justin Tayao, Michael Monaghan, Shane Curry, Adel Essajee, Maks Aylward, Emmanual Shehu (1-7, 5f), Paul Surlis (0-1), Favour Shehu (0-1), Aamer Essajee (1-0), Jacob Jaskievicz, Mark Sexton

Subs: Donnacha McNamara (0-1), Josh Dunne, Cailum McNamara (0-1), Mark McDwyer, Daniel Oluda

Ref: Barry McMenamin