Gaels make historic breakthrough to claim first-ever SHC title

Senior Hurling Championship final

East Cavan Gaels 1-15

Cootehill Celtic 1-9

Kevin Óg Carney at Kingspan Breffni

East Cavan Gaels came of age last Sunday in senior hurling ranks when they deservedly claimed the Tom Walsh Memorial Cup at Kingspan Breffni.

Formed in 2009, the Gaels overcame challenging conditions at Kingspan Breffni and a profligate Cootehill side to make history by dint of achieving their first-ever blue riband title.

Cootehill were aiming to make it four-in-a-row of Senior Hurling Championship titles but despite finding the net early on, they failed badly to consistently work the oracle at the business end of the field.

Pre-match fears that inclement weather would negate against a repeat of last year’s tremendously exciting and high quality decider proved spot-on with only intermittent classy scores and the closeness of the scoring recommending itself to the purist.

To the victor the spoils though and the Gaels were full value for their victory. On the day, they were the better team, the hungrier and harder working outfit and they got their due reward.

Cootehill can have no complaints. They improved in every aspect of their game in the second half but, minus the holidaying Mark Moffett, were nowhere near potent enough to ever look like a team capable of retaining their title.

Backboned by a handful of top notch county stars, the Gaels showed their mettle, their character and their will-to-win in rebounding from an uncertain start to the game during which time they were stung by Diarmaid Carney's eight minute goal after he finished off good work by Thomas Leonard and Conor Shalvey in the build-up.

The pretenders to the crown played into the town end of the pitch in the first half and demonstrated their raw intent by replying to Carney’s major by countering with interest, notching five unanswered points with Waterford native Liam O'Brien accounting for two of them.

In any event, the writing was on the wall for the decent-sized attendance as the would-be winners eased their way into a 0-6 to 1-1 lead by the end of the opening quarter.

In addition to the contribution from their noted heavy-hitters, the Gaels got the most out of their lesser lights and an inspirational 17th minute point by influential team-captain Rory Farrell had the champions-elect looking more comfortable than their 0-7 to 1-2 lead would have suggested.

Cootehill fluffed their lines time and time again in opposition territory. In the 20th minute Conor Bannon fed Diarmaid Carney and he looked set to find the net but Philip McKeon hooked him superbly and the chance was lost.

Seconds later, at the other end of the field, James McKitterick made a great block to prevent the Gaels’ James Tully from getting a shot in on goal.

Cootehill continued to labour badly up front, missing chances from open play and frees. They did improve marginally in that regard as the game progressed and a point apiece from the impressive Cian Farrelly and Conor Shalvey (free) reduced the Gaels' lead to 1-4 to 0-9 at the interval.

The Gaels kept their sleeves rolled up though and they continued to show the greater hunger and with man-of-the-match O'Brien puncturing Cootehill’s semi-inflated balloon on a regular basis, the leaders never looked like relinquishing their advantage.

Wind-aided Cootehill manufactured another goal chance but after Farrelly tried to set up Diarmaid Carney on the edge of the square, the retreating Jack McGuinness made a terrific interception.

ECG lived dangerously in the run-in. Rian Delaney’s goal-bound shot was deflected wide for a fruitless ’65 in the 46th minute and then five minutes later, Delaney let fly again but his shot rebounded off the butt of the post.

A brilliant block by Farrell and a follow-up free by Liam O’Brien made it 0-15 to 1-7 and while a Lonan McKenna brace made for a tense and frenetic finish, the Gaels weren’t for turning. The die was cast.

East Cavan Gaels: Conor Gallagher; Gary Leddy, Killian Farrelly, Philip Duffy; Jack McGuinness, Jack Barry, Tadhg Barry; Philip McKeon, Canice Maher (0-2); Callum Shiel, Liam O'Brien (0-9, 4f), Daire Leddy; Rory Farrell (0-2), Nicky Kenny (0-1), James Tully (0-1).

Subs; Cian McEntee for P McKeon.

Cootehill Celtic: Niall Clerkin; Philip McCabe, Enda Shalvey, James McKitterick; Darragh Boyle, Conor Bannon, John Carney; Gavin Fitzpatrick, Lonan McKenna (0-2); Rian Delaney (0-2), Thomas Leonard, Dylan McKeever; Cian Farrelly (0-1), Diarmaid Carney (1-0), Conor Shalvey (0-3, 3f).

Subs; Niall Fitzpatrick (0-1) for D McKeever; Cian Smith for C Shalvey; Ben Tully for D Carney.

Ref: J Emmo (Butlersbridge)