Cavan Gaels are back as Cavan minor football champions, when on Sunday last, 1st of October at Kingspan/Breffni Park, Cavan they defeated a strong and tenacious Lurgan side on a scoreline of 2-15 to 2-11. This was a exciting contest from start to finish with the game in the balance up to the final ten minutes when the Cavan town side led by a single point. However, the Gaels finished the contest in style taking from excellent scores, and their superior fitness and determination saw them come home worthy winners by four points. The final was an excellent advertisement for minor football in the Breffni county at the present time. There was many outstanding individual performances on both sides, with talented players such as Martin Dunne, Levi Murphy, Declan Meehan, Conor McClarey and Niall Smith catching the eye for the champions, while for Lurgan full-forward Adrian Cole had a tremendous game at full-forward and took the game to the Gaels right to the final whistle. He was ably supported by among others Darren Monaghan, Stephen Sheridan, Damien Barkley, Stefan Connolly and Paul Queally. The opening half of the game was played at a very fast pace, with both sides having periods of dominance. However, a strong finish to the half by the Cavan Gaels side saw them go in at the break leading by two points 1-7 to 1-5. Lurgan started the second-half in determined fashion and were on level terms after three minutes with points from Shane O'Reilly and Stephen Monaghan, and a minute later they took the lead with an excellent goal from Adrian Cole. By the 46th minute the Gaels had turned the game around thanks to an opportunist goal from Levi Murphy and led by 2-10 to 2-9. Two minutes later the sides were level once again, and the game was in the balance. However, in the closing minutes the Cavan Gaels side really opened up and playing some very attractive football they opened up a tiring Lurgan defence to go on and record a convincing four points win in the end. This was a tremendous achievement by the Cavan Gaels side who lost to the same opposition in the recent Division 1 League Final played at New Inns, Lavey. They turned it around on this occasion but they would be first to admit it took a real team effort by them to overcome what is a very talented Lurgan side. In the end the greater strength in depth of the Cavan side proved the difference, plus the fact that they had greater scoring options in their attack. Now it on to Ulster and the chance of representing the Breffni county in the provincial championship in Belfast against some of the best minor sides in the province at the present time. Finian Farrell and his side will be up for the challenge, and if the can produce they form they showed in this final they will be more than a match for the best around. As for Lurgan they will re-group and no doubt come back strongly next season. They have the consolation of winning the league title, and also playing their full part in what was a memorable minor decider - badly needed for Cavan football at the present time. Cavan Gaels - David Reilly; Leigh Jackson, Dallen McCormack, Mark Leddy; Cillian McKiernan, Niall Gurhy, Christopher Quinn; Daniel Graham, Declan Meehan (0-2); Niall Smith (0-1), Sean Higgins, Niall Murray; Conor McClary (0-2), Levi Murphy (2-1), Martin Dunne (0-9). Subs. Gerry Reilly for Niall Murray (31), Paraic Sexton for Christopher Quinn (60). Lurgan - Robert Tynan; Damien Barkey, Stefan Connolly, Shane O'Reilly; Raymond Farrelly, Michael O'Reilly, Darren Monaghan (0-2); Stephen Monaghan (0-2), James McEnroe; Vincent McCabe (0-1), James Lynch, Stephen Sheridan; Paul Queally (1-1), Adrian Cole (1-3), Mark Hetherton (0-1). Subs. Cillian Lynch for James Lynch (37). Referee: Jimmy Galligan, Lacken Celtic. Tweet

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