Cavan Senior Hurling Final

Cootehill Celtic 1-16 Mullahoran St. Joseph’s 0-8

By Kevin Carney at Kingspan Breffni

Cootehill Celtic will represent Cavan in the Ulster JHC for the second successive year after retaining their senior county crown with some comfort at Kingspan Breffni.

The holders weren’t flattered by their 11 points winning margin despite a tentative and lack-lustre first half display.

The holders were the more consistent, more athletic team and were in front for all but three minutes of a game played in dreadful weather conditions on a rain-sodden pitch.

Ultimately, the combination of the dismissal of Mullahoran freetaker Derek Dalton in the second half juxtaposed with a Cootehill’s only goal of the game served to put the game beyond the Longford-border outfit.

Powered by the accuracy of Dalton, Mullahoran recovered from a poor start to put pressure on their fitful opponents and a fine Ronan O’Hagan point helped hoist them onto level terms (0-6 apiece) with 22 minutes on the clock but that was the only time Cootehill wouldn’t have their noses in front.

Mullahoran’s lack of penetration up front was their achilees heel and salt was poured into their increasingly obvious wound when Dalton was shown a straight red card just three minutes after the interval.

With Diarmaid Carney always a danger up front and Padraig Jackson and Darragh Boyle in commanding form at the back, Cootehill began on the front foot but led by just 0-5 to 0-3 at the end of a claustrophobic first half.

Mullahoran trailed by 0-6 to 0-8 at the interval and went another point behind when Dalton was red carded for a striking offence.

Thereafter, Cootehill slowly but surely twisted the knife with good stickwork by John Carney enabling Thomas Leonard to split the posts and make it 0-12 to 0-7 after 40 minutes.

Mullahoran badly needed a goal to inject life into the contest but, instead, it was the Celts who netted with Niall Fitzpatrick and Mark Moffett combining to put man-of-the-match Rian Delaney through for a crucial goal with 15 minutes left to play.

Mullahoran appeared to have gained a lifeline in the 49th minute when they were awarded a penalty after a foul on Hugh Briody but ‘keeper Darren Sheridan arrowed the sliotar over, instead of under, the Cootehill crossbar.

The Celts were able to coast their way over the finishing line with Diarmaid Carney’s angled point on the hour mark putting the icing on the cake.

Cootehill Celtic scorers: D Carney (0-6, 2f); R Delaney (1-3); M Moffett (0-3, 2f); T Leonard (0-2); N Clerkin (0-2, 1f, ’65)

Mullahoran St. Joseph’s scorers: D Dalton (0-5 3f, ’65, ’65); R O’Hagan (0-2, 1f); D Sheridan (0-1, pen).

Cootehill Celtic: N Clerkin; P Jackson, D Boyle, J McKitterick; G Fitzpatrick, J Carney, P McCabe; L McKenna, C Bannon; R Delaney, M Moffett, T Leonard; N Fitzpatrick, D Carney, E Magee. Subs: F Hughes for P McCabe (h-t); O Leddy for J McKitterick (47); R Brady for P Jackson (54); J McKay for T Leonard (54); S Denning for G Fitzpatrick (57).

Mullahoran St. Joseph’s: D Sheridan; T Moran, D Crudden, S McKeogh; A Rabitte, M Hynes, J Coyle; E Dalton, S Sheils; B Nannery, D Dalton, R O’Hagan; R Smith, P Brady, C Kelly. Subs: H Briody for J Coyle (h-t); M Sexton for B Nannery (44); C Kelly for R Smith (50); C Brady for P Brady (57); C Sheridan for S Sheils.

Ref: J Clarke (Killinkere)