Gowna opened there Senior Championship campaign with Kingscourt Stars in the first round in Ramor United Park.

Last year's beaten finalist Kingscourt were red hot favourites against a Gowna team that's top of Division 1B. Barry Reilly got the first score of the game with a point from a free in the 2nd minute. Conor Madden replied with a free in the 5th minute and was quickly followed by a Ray Keogh point in the 6th minute to put Gowna 2-1 up.

The Gowna full forward line were causing trouble with David Hyland a big threat in the air with Shane Briody and Gerald Pearson tackling very hard to put the Kingscourt full back line under pressure coming out with the ball. Their hard work was paying dividends with points from Shane Briody, David Hyland, Cian Bannon and a Mark McKeever free to put 6-1 up after 20 minutes.

All over the field Gowna were dominating with Mark McKeever getting the better of County Captain Alan Clarke at Midfield. Barry Reilly got his second score of the game with a free in the 21st minute. Seventeen year old Cian Bannon got his second point of the game to restore Gowna's five point lead. Daryl Martin got Kingscourt's first point from play in the 26th minute.

Mark McKeever scored another free in the 30th minute to give Gowna a five point lead at the break.

Half Time Gowna 0-8 Kingscourt 0-3

Conor Madden opened the second half scoring with a super free 40 metres out on the sideline to extend Gowna's lead. Shane Briody got his 2nd point of the game in the 39th minute to leave seven in the difference. Kingscourt introduced Colm Smith in the 40th minute and Ryan McCormack shortly after. Smith mad an immediate impact scoring a point from centre back in the 45th minute. Barry Reilly began to cause the Gowna defence trouble and he was fouled outside the 21 and scored the resulting free in the 46th minute.

McKeever got his first point from play in the 49th minute sandwiched in-between Barry Reilly frees as Reilly slotted another over in the 20th minute. Things began to heat up as the points were coming quick and fast as Gerald Pearson got his name on the score sheet in the 20th minute. Reilly got his first point from play in 51st minute and another from play in the 53rd minute to leave it Gowna 0-12 Kingscourt 0-8 with seven minutes left. At this stage Reilly was causing havoc in the Gowna defence with four points in seven minutes.

In the 54th minute Gowna lost Niall Madden to a second yellow card. In the 57th minute Kingscourt were awarded a penalty for a foul on Barry Reilly as Kingscourt had a free at midfield and referee Raymond Tynan looked inside and awarded the penalty from midfield. Full forward Philip Smith took the penalty and Gowna keeper got a hand to hit but it wasn't enough. This left it a one point game with three minutes left.

Conor Madden got a point to put Gowna two up with a minute of normal time remaining. Shane Briody broke clean through on goal but Kingscourt keeper James Farrelly made a great save to keep Kingscourt in the game. Philip Smith brought Kingscourt back to within a point with a free in the 33rd minute. Gowna won the resulting kick out and play went on for another minute before Tynan called time as Mickey Harkins men won on the closest of margins.
Full Time: Gowna 0-13 Kingscourt 1-9

Gowna Team:
R.Bannon, R.McGahern, E.Madden, B.Madden, S.Harton, W. Stevens. A. Dewart, M.McKeever (0-3,2f), R.Keogh (0-1), N.Madden, C.Madden (0-3,2f), C.Bannon (0-2), G.Pearson (0-1), D.Hyland (0-1), S.Briody (0-2)

Kingscourt Team:
J.Farrelly, R.Sheridan, S.Grey, P.Farrelly, JP Reilly, P.Faulkner, A. Brown, A. Clarke, G.Sheenan, K.McCabe,B.Reilly(0-6,4f), D.Martin(0-1),P.Tinnelly, P.Smith(1-1,penalty),C.McArdle.
Subs: C.Smith (0-1), R.McCormack, R.Carey. Tweet

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