12th title for Gaels
The 2010 champions got off to a turbo-charged start with Kevin Meehan goaling after just two minutes following an incisive move engineered by Dominic Reilly and Martin Dunne.
Castlerahan continued to play a poor second fiddle and a Martin Dunne goal left them labouring to eat into their opponents’ 2-6 to 0-3 interval lead.
Paul Smith and Sean Brady (free) hinted at a Castlerahan fight back but a goal from with half-back Robert Maloney-Derham on the three-quarter hour mark finished the game.
All that remained was for the new champions to add the garnish of a fourth goal with Maloney-Derham doing the needful in exemplary style with 16 minutes still to play.
Scorers for Cavan Gaels: M Dunne 1-4, S Johnston 1-3 (2fs), R Maloney-Derham 1-1, K Meehan 1-0, M Lyng 0-2, N Smith 0-1.
Scorers for Castlerahan: S Brady (2fs), C Mackey (f), O O’Connell (f) 0-2 each, P Smith 0-1.
CAVAN GAELS: E Elliott; D Rabbitt, C Collins, N Gurhy; D Sexton, E Reilly, R Maloney-Derham; E King, D Reilly; N Smith, S Johnston, N Murray; M Dunne, K Meehan, M Lyng.
Subs: K Crotty for N Gurhy (40), P O’Donnell for N Murray (46), D Graham for E Reilly (46), S Reilly for E King (47), C Nelligan for S Johnston (56).
CASTLERAHAN:J Leahy; S Cooney, E Hill, A Mulvey; D Wright, R Flanagan, E O’Connell; P Brady, A Cusack; P Cusack, S Brady, P Smith; C Mackey, O O’Connell, B Coleman.
Subs: S Cooney for D Wright (ht), A Mulvey for E Hill (39), F Reilly for C McBreen (47).
Referee: B Sweeney (Ballymachugh)
