Kingscourt claim Reserve honours in high-scoring final

Reserve Championship Division 1 final

Kingscourt Stars 5-12

Crosserlough 3-13

Kingscourt claimed the Reserve Division 1 Championship title in this high-scoring thriller played under lights in Edwin Carolan Park, Mullagh.

This match ebbed and flowed from the outset. The Stars got off to a brilliant start and four goals in the first 22 minutes saw them lead by 11 points at one stage but the ‘Lough came roaring back into the contest and, with the experienced Barry McKiernan scoring freely, had reduced the deficit to two points in the final 10 minutes.

But Kingscourt rattled the net for a fifth time on the run-in and that made the difference as they eventually closed it out with five points to spare after a free-wheeling match which provided great entertainment for the crowd.

In an action-packed first half, the Stars got off to a flyer. Micheál Gargan (one of two namesakes in the Stars’ line-up) registered the opening point before Ciaran Dermody broke through for a goal and when Kevin Curtis also rattled the net, the east Cavan side had opened a very useful seven-point lead.

The experienced Barry McKiernan, the stand-out attacker for Crosserlough, fired over two points from play to reduce the gap by the sixth minute but Kingscourt quickly cancelled his brace out with scores from Cian Shekleton and Kevin Curtis.

A McKiernan free on 16 minutes stopped the bleeding but the Stars again worked a goal, this time midfielder Sean Burke providing the finish. McKiernan replied from play; not to be outdone, Burke raised a white flag to go with his green one to leave it 3-4 to 0-4 with 19 minutes on the clock.

McKiernan, who was proving elusive, hit back with a free and then senior goalkeeper Shane McManus landed a point after Tommy Boylan intercepted a Stars kick-out.

There was no time to draw breath as they scores kept coming thick and fast. Former Cavan senior panellist Philip Tinnelly was next to hit the onion bag and when Burke added a point, it was 4-5 to 0-6.

To their credit, the senior champions did not panic and they finished the half strongly. After a shot was saved, Barry McKiernan rattled home the Lough’s first goal and, a minute later, Ryan Galligan added another after a turnover on the Stars’ 45.

And when Harry Boylan clipped over another point just before the break, the deficit was down to a much more manageable four points at the interval.

Half-time probably came at the wrong time for Crosserlough as Kingscourt regrouped and came out re-energised. Cian Shekleton landed a point from play, as did Micheál Gargan, before a moment of sublime skill from Gargan saw him convert a sideline ball, a rare feat which is usually the preserve of some of the inter-county greats.

Back came Crosserlough with scores from youngsters Kieran Smith and Michael Donohoe (free). Kingscourt landed another point from Burke but a second goal from McKiernan saw Crosserlough cut the gap to two points with 14 minutes remaining on the clock.

Curtis responded with a point for the Stars but two more from McKiernan (one free) kept Crosserlough in the hunt.

But it was the Kingscourt lads who finished the stronger and powered over the line. Another point from the in-form Gargan was followed by a fifth goal, this time Kevin Curtis the provider, as the would-be winners stretched their advantage again.

Gargan registered another point in the dying minutes and although Crosserlough had the final say with a Ryan Galligan point, they couldn’t get any closer as Kingscourt took the spoils after an enthralling encounter.

Crosserlough: Thomas Byrd, Ben Colwell, Ronan Harten, Damien Lynch, Ryan Stuart, Dylan Harten, Padraig Shalvey, Shane McManus (0-1), Kieran Smith (0-1), Michael Donohoe (0-1f), Ryan Galligan (1-1), Harry Boylan (0-1), Barry McKiernan (2-7, 3f), Eoin Cusack, Tommy Boylan

Subs: Mark Stuart for R Stuart (ht), James McEvoy for T Boylan (40), Karl Lynch for D Lynch (40)

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin, Paddy Farrelly, Cathal McKeown, Tom Tully, Shane Duffy, Philip Tinnelly (1-0), Oisin Cunningham, Terry Reilly, John Oates, Sean Burke (1-3), Cian Shekleton (0-2), Ciaran Dermody (1-0), Micheál Gargan (0-3, 1 s/l), Kevin Curtis (2-2), Micheál Gargan (0-2)

Subs: Jamie Rooney for C Dermody (50), Ryan Carey for K Curtis (56), Damien McCormack for Terry O'Reilly (58), Ryan Carolan for O Cunningham (58)