ROUND-UP: SFC group stage going down to the wire

Paul Fitzpatrick

With ‘moving day’ complete, the picture has become clearer in the Cavan Senior Football Championship after two busy days.

In the Senior Championship, an excellent performance from Joe Dillon and a haul of 0-6 (5f) helped Kingscourt get over local rivals Shercock on Friday night in Mullagh.

Shercock, who lost Killian Clarke to injury early on, actually got back to within three with four minutes to play but a palmed goal from Kevin Curtis was the insurance score for the Stars.

Yesterday afternoon, Ramor and Castlerahan played out a thriller before a large crowd in Crosskeys. Castlerahan were the better side in the first half, with three points from the in-form Oisin Kiernan helping them register 0-10 in the first 20 minutes.

However, by then they had shipped two goals, Ado Cole palming in the first and sub Killian Brady the second. An Enda Flanagan penalty helped Donal Keogan’s side into a 1-11 to 2-4 half-time advantage.

Conor Bradley took the fight to the winners throughout and Ramor pulled back a goal from sub Ronan Patterson and had another ‘goal’ controversially ruled out but Castlerahan were the better side on the overall balance of play, with wing-back Paul Smith and Ronan Flanagan standing out and Shane O’Reilly kicking 0-3.

Champions Cavan Gaels, meanwhile, are still without a win after three matches. They were held to a 1-11 to 0-14 draw in Crowe Park by Gowna.

The sides were level at half-time but the Gaels looked to have won it when Paul Graham goaled late on. However, Gowna dug in and drew level before Ciaran Flynn’s late free dropped short and that was that.

The Lavey v Killygarry match was marred by an injury to Killygarry’s Conor Smith, which saw the match held up for almost an hour.

Lavey were full of running early on and raced into a six-point lead, with Gerry Smith palming in the goal and Shane Tierney and Chris Conroy (with two excellent frees) also on the mark.

However, after the resumption following the injury, Killygarry upped the ante, led by Martin Reilly, and the county man struck a penalty as they took a 1-8 to 1-6 half-time lead.

The second half was cagey, error-ridden and full of excitement. Both teams had chances to win it but the last one fell to Conroy, whose long-range free tailed agonisingly wide as it finished 1-11 apiece.

Meanwhile, Crosserlough won their local derby against Ballinagh by 3-16 to 3-11. The Lough were 10 points up with six minutes to go in the first half but were rocked by a brilliant Ballinagh salvo, highlighted by a Thomas Moore goal, dragged them back into it.

However, Crosserlough rode out the storm and finished strongly, with Peter Smith landing a late goal on the counter to seal their win.

Elsewhere, the JFC semi-finals will see Denn meet Killinkere and Mountnugent take on Drumlane.