Stalemate between Gaels and Castlerahan

Cavan Gaels 1-12
Castlerahan 1-12

Paul Fitzpatrick
at New Inns

Two late frees from Cian Mackey secured a draw for Castlerahan in this well-contested crunch SFC clash at a wintry New Inns, Lavey this evening.

Before a large crowd, this repeat of last year’s county final was close throughout and, in the end, a draw was a fair result.

Castlerahan got off to a brilliant start when the ball was worked to Jamie McGrath and the corner-forward finished powerfully to the roof of the Gaels net and they quickly added two further points from Enda Flanagan and Sean Brady (free).

Two frees from Sean Johnston and a fisted point from Levi Murphy brought the Gaels closer but Brady replied with another for Donal Keogan’s men, a point – created by a clever Flanagan pass - which could have been a goal only for good defending by the hardworking Paul Graham.

A free from Mackey put four between them on 23 minutes but the Gaels finished the half stronger. A 40-metre point from Mickey Lyng was cancelled out by a slick dummy and finish by Brian Ennis but quality points from Paul Graham (two) and Martin Dunne and another Johnston free saw the sides go in deadlocked at 0-8 to 1-5 at half-time.

The Gaels dominated the third quarter and could have had three goals. Paul O’Connor blasted over their first goal chance, Johnston and Declan Meehan pointed from the next two before Ennis stopped the rot with his second.

From another goal chance, Murphy tapped over a point when a lay-off to Johnston could have resulted in a tap-in but with 15 minutes to go, the champions were 0-12 to 1-6 up and seemed to have Castlerahan’s number, forcing repeated turnovers.

However, the Ballyjamesduff men dug deep. A great point by Mackey, a brilliant one from Brady after excellent work by Paul Smith and then another splendid effort from Ronan Flanagan tied the game and when Padraig Smith bombed one over from distance, Castlerahan had their noses in front again.

Within a minute, though, the Gaels were ahead when Kieran Daly fouled Andy Graham and Johnston coolly tucked away the resulting penalty via the post.

Castlerahan poured forward searching for the equaliser late on and they were rewarded when Mackey converted to frees to secure a share of the spoils.

See this week's print edition for full report.