Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PERFECT 10 FOR ACE JOHNSTON
Cavan Gaels 0-13 Castlerahan 0-8 BY KEVIN CARNEY
IT was a case of ‘home sweet home’ for the much travelled Seanie Johnston as he collected his 10th SFC medal at Kingspan Breffni.
The former Kildare senior player and current Cavan ace also picked up the man-of-thematch award after posting five timely points.
The Gaels captured their first county SFC title since 2014 with the minimum of fuss but they were helped by a wasteful Castlerahan side.
Looking to claim their first blue riband title, Castlerahan blew two giltedged goal chances in the first half.
Firstly, Castlerahan’s Paul Smith skied his shot over right in front of goal.
Worse was to follow though for the underdogs when Cian Mackey’s exocet from the penalty spot (inset) – after Daniel Lynch was brought down – flashed wide of the junction of crossbar and upright.
The county town side came out for the second half leading by 0-7 to 0-2 but points from Oisin O’connell, Oisín Kiernan and Mackey (free) served to cut the leaders’ advantage to three points, 0-8 to 0-5 after 38 minutes. Castlerahan kept nipping away at their opponents’ heels but they were made to pay dearly for their first-half profligacy and the dismissals of Cormac Daly and Stephen Cooney capped a miserable day.
SCORERS - CAVAN GAELS: S Johnston (0-5, 2f); N Smith (0-2); R Maloney-derham (0-2); M Dunne (0-2,1f); B Fortune (0-1); D Meehan (0-1). CASTLERAHAN: O Kiernan (0-2, ’45); C Mc Enroe (0-1, f); P Smith (0-1); C Daly (0-1); O O’connell (0-1); C Mackey (0-1, f); S Brady (0-1).