12th title for Gaels

IT was all too easy for Cavan Gaels as they collected their 12th SFC title with the minimum of fuss Park yesterday.

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)