Stars shine to claim Cavan crown

It's a first senior title since 2015 for the club. 

Jordan Morris of Kingscourt Stars celebrates after his side's victory. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Kingscourt Stars 2-16 Gowna 0-13 

Raging hot underdogs Kingscourt Stars used two first half goals as the scaffold to construct a deserved Cavan SFC final victory at Kingspan Breffni.

The Stars didn’t always shine on what was a perfect day for football but their efficiency up front, superior aggression and better cohesion served to spirit them to their first blue riband title since 2015.

Title winners as recently as 2013, Gowna can have no complaints. They went into the game as odds-on favourites to do the business but seldom hit the high notes.

In achieving the biggest upset in a blue riband final in Cavan for more than a decade, Kingscourt played second fiddle early on as Gowna chiselled out a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after just eight minutes.

However, the Stars soon began to shine and a brilliantly-worked 33rd minute goal by Kevin Curtis catapulted them into the lead (1-5 to 0-7) for the first time in the game. It was a lead that wasn’t seriously threatened thereafter.

Much too dependent on frees for scores, Gowna’s woes were compounded six minutes into added-on time when veteran Joe Dillon snatched a finel solo goal to catapult his side into a commanding 2-7 to 0-8 interval.

A Robbie Fitzpatrick free just 90 seconds into the second half kept Gowna’s hopes alive but Kingscourt were destined to get their hands on the Oliver Plunkett Cup for the first time since 2015 as Gowna failed to add to their tally tunil another Fitzpatrick free (51) made it 0-10 to 2-15.

Too slow and ponderous in their approach work, Gowna laboured badly down the back straight to take a nibble never mind a chunk out of Kingscourt’s cushioned lead.

Kingscourt were rock solid in the run-in and failed to concede any goal chance(s) that would have allowed their opponents a glimpse of a get-out-of-jail card.

For good measure, Kingscourt finished added-on time with a swagger, winning pulling up and deservedly booking a place in the Ulster Club SFC for the first time in 10 years.

Kingscourt Stars: T Martin; C McAvinney, J McCullough, S Gray; O Cunningham (0-1), A Shekleton, B Tully; P Faulkner (0-2), P Meade; J Dillon (1-1), P Corrigan, C Dermody; J Morris (0-9, 2 ptf, 2ptf, 3f), K Curtis (1-0), C Shekleton (0-2, 2pt).

Subs; J McKeon for O Cunningham (inj, 27); C McGee for C Dermody (57); S Burke for K Curtis (57); M Gargan (0-1, f) for J Dillon (62); N McCormack for S Gray (62).

Gowna: M Brady; C Brady, R McGahern, E Hartin; F Brady, C Brady, T Madden; R Donohoe, C Casey; R Brady, C Madden (0-4, 1f), D Madden; O Pierson, C Madden (0-3), R Fitzpatrick (0-6, 4f).

Subs; S Hartin for R Donohoe (45); F Brady for D Madden (inj, 52); O Madden for E Hartin (58).