Crosserlough 3-10
Knockbride 1-9

Crosserlough captured their first county minor championship title since 1995 this afternoon at Knockbride's expense at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Goals from James Smith (2) and Peter Smith made all the difference in what was a thoroughly entertaining curtain raiser to this evening's senior championship final.

Jimmy Higgins' team took their first lead in the fourth minute and never surrendered it from there, as a brace of goal before half-time from midfielder James Smith dealt a colossal blow to Knockbride and they ended up chasing the game until the very ended.

Crosserlough had only edged a pulsating first-half before their goals went in, posting scores from Shane McVeety (free) and Patrick O'Reilly in the early stages to outweigh Philip Rogers' opener for the Canningstown lads.

James Smith and Stephen Smith upped the advantage to three but Knockbride had no intentions of going away, with a pair of frees from Rogers matching another two from Crosserlough centre-forward Stephen Smith.

McVeety - younger brother of Cavan senior Dara - put Peter Smith through for the leaders' sixth and they'd also see a couple of goal chance kept out by James Lynch in the Knockbride goal.

Karl Hannigan and Niall McCabe looped over points to put the difference at a minimum prior to Peter Smith and McCabe cancelling each other towards the interval. McVeety and Ciaran Smith did likewise before Crosserlough struck their first major blow.

A lofted ball in wasn't dealt with and midfielder Smith soared highest above Lynch and flicked the ball to the net.

Knockbride would've liked to got in at that stage without being inflicted with any more damage but they couldn't escape those nightmarish added minutes. Peter Smith rifled over a superb point and that man Smith backed it up with three in the very next attack, sending Crosserlough in at the break 2-9 to 0-7 to the good.

A Rogers free reduced the margin to four within a minute of the restart but Sean Og Smith's charges were fortunate not to be seven behind after Crosserlough's no 13 Patrick Lynch saw a goal chance brilliantly turned around the post by Lynch.

Hannigan rattled the post at the other end soon afterwards as Jamie Smith pointed Crosserlough's first of the second-half on 44 minutes.

'Man of the Match' Smith nearly had his hat-trick a minute later, but pulled his shot just wide.

However, Knockbride barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief before the ball was in their back of their net again. This time Smith was one of the providers, finding his namesake Jamie inside and the full-forward offloaded to Peter Smith who did the rest.

Knockbride were still in with an outside chance after Rogers converted a penalty won by McCabe with expertise, but their counterparts from Kilnaleck saw out the win for their club's first county minor crown in 21 years.

Crosserlough: Anthony Smith; Gavin Brady, Patrick O'Reilly, John Cooke; Brogan Koetze, Conor Rehill, Edward Devereaux-Gilsenan; James Smith (2-1), Sean Briody; Shane McVeety (0-2, 1f), Stephen Smith (0-3, 3f), Conor Lee; Patrick Lynch (0-1), Jamie Smith (0-1), Peter Smith (1-2). Subs: Darren Galligan for B Koetze (26mins), Brandon Boylan for S Briody (47), Ciaran Galligan for P Smith (55), Thomas Keaney for Jamie Smith (58), Conor Byrd for C Lee (59), Donnacha Comiskey for P Lynch (60).

Knockbride: James Lynch; Conor Smith, Declan Nulty, Philip Nulty; DJ Cassidy, David Rogers, Shane Carolan; Jordan McCabe, Conor Smith; Ciaran Smith (0-1), Philip Rogers (1-5, 4f, 1 pen), Karl Hannigan (0-1); Matthew Traynor, Niall McCabe (0-2), Callum Clarke. Subs: Dylan Clarke for C Smith (45mins), Jake Daly for J Carolan (60), Jack Flanagan for C Clarke (60), Frank McCabe for M Traynor (60).

Ref: Stephen McKiernan (Kildallan)

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