Castlerahan minors make their own piece of football history
October 18, 2005
Castlerahan are the new Cavan MFC (Division One) for this season when on Sunday 16th October in Kingspan-Breffni Park, Cavan before a large attendance they defeated near-neighbours in the replayed final on a scoreline of 0-8 to 0-3.
This was the first-time ever that the Castlerahan club had won this minor title, and there was great celebrations amongst their players, management and followers at the end of the game.
The game itself never really lived up to the pre-match predictions, as both sides cancelled each other out in the opening half, and when the sides retired at the break Castlerahan were ahead by two points - 0-4 to 0-2 - the last score of this half coming in the dying minutes from Crosserlough's Thomas McEvoy.
Castlerahan upped their game considerably in the third quarter and the handicap of playing with 14-men seemed to be effecting the Crosserlough side as the Castlerahan side increased their lead with points from 'man of the match' Cian Mackey and Fiachra Cork.
However, true to their tradition Crosserlough came back and a point from a free by their star forward Enda Gaffney gave them some hope. With the game entering the final ten minutes Castlerahan now playing well within themselves had another point from Ronan Flanagan and the title now looked destined for the Ballyjamesduff area. Crosserlough's efforts were further handicapped in the closing minutes when sub, Emmett O'Reilly was red carded by referee Jimmy Galligan (Killygarry) for a high tackle, and try as they might with 13-players they just couldn't get back into the game. The closing score of the final fittingly went to the impressive Cian Mackey from a free as his side went on to a deserved championship success.
Castlerahan - Brian Coleman; Shane Boylan, Paudie O'Reilly, Fergal Flanagan; Tommy Tracey, Ronan Flanagan (0-2), Barry Cusack; Cian Mackey (0-3), Pauric Smith; Gavin Cunningham, Ronan Brady (0-1), Sean Fitzpatrick; Daniel Lynch (0-1), Fiachra Cork (0-1), Lochlann Egan.
Subs - Paul Cusack for Sean Fitzpatrick, injured, (26 minutes), Enda O'Connell for Lochlann Egan (48 minutes), Michael Smith for Gavin Cunningham (49 minutes ), Jason Conaty for Ronan Brady (32 minutes).
Crosserlough - James McEvoy; Cillian McEvoy, Colin Lynch, Thomas McKiernan; Paul Lynch, Damien Lynch, Kevin Finnegan; Stephen Denneny (0-1), Tomas McEvoy (0-1); James Fay, Killian Lynch, Dominic McCabe, Jimmy McEnroe, Enda Gaffney (0-1), Emmett O'Reilly.
Subs - Barry McKiernan for James McEnroe (14 minutes), Niall Galligan for James Fay (28 minutes), Caolan O'Reilly for Killian Lynch (40 minutes), Damien Tierney for Stephen Denneny (58 minutes), Cian Walsh for Niall Galligan (31 minutes).
Referee - Jimmy Galligan, Killygarry.
This Castlerahan side have won county titles from U-12 upwards, and they are very much the future of Castlerahan football at senior level in the coming years.
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