February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
It looked as if it might be easy for the Saints as they ran out to a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes of play. Full forward John Donohue was creating big gaps in the Cavan defense with his roaming style, and the Saints took advantage with a C.J. Doherty free and two from John O’Driscoll.
Cavan managed to keep in touch as Martin McCormack and Andy McEvoy added points to Dessie O’Reilly earlier point. St. Raymond’s responded well to the Breffni threat when C.J. Doherty pointed from a Donohue feed.
St. Ray’s kept the pressure on when Shay Furlong’s long pass led to a penalty. John O’Driscoll shot low to Cavan keeper Pauric Clarke’s right, but Clarke was up to the task and Cavan were still alive. Cavan closed out the half with another point from a Dessie O’Reilly free and Cavan had the momentum at the break.
O’Reilly got the second half under way in the same fashion after 4 minutes and Cavan were looking for the comeback.
The vaunted St Raymond’s midfield of Gary Dowd and C.J. Doherty had faded a bit after a good start, but now they began to reassert themselves. First, Dowd drove over a great point. Marty Meehan added another Raymond’s point. Doherty pointed from a free and Mike Creegan added a great score as St. Raymond’s began to see the finish line.
The St. Ray’s defense had done a good job in slowing a Cavan attack that had scored six goals in the semifinals. Tommy Hoey, Kieran McKenna, and Mark Comerford stood out, but the entire Raymond’s defense were sharp.
Much to Cavan’s credit, they never conceded defeat and Raymond’s supporters had to sweat out a tense final quarter. It wasn’t until C.J. Doherty knocked over a late point to put 0-4 between the sides that Pat Ryan’s side could breath easily. Doherty’s point cinched it and the championship went to St. Raymond’s.
Man of the Match: C.J. Doherty
St. Raymond’s: Cathal Quinn, Tommy Hoey, Kieran McKenna, Mike Killeen, Brendan Duggan, Mark Comerford, Brendan Wiley, Gary Dowd (0-1), C.J. Doherty (0-5), Shay Furlong, Marty Meehan (0-2), Mike Creegan (0-1), John O’Driscoll (0-2, 2 frees), John O’Donohue (0-1), Adrian O’Driscoll. Subs: Vinny Norton, Eammon Mahon, Joe Kavanagh, Cronin Dempsey, Noel Blanchfield, Ed Michael, Eddie Murphy.
Cavan: Pauric Clarke, Barney Brady, Mike Boyle, Mike Reilly, Michael Smith, Sean Sorahan, Jerry Burke, James Smith, Jim Gilsenan, Dessie O’Reilly (0-5), Martin McCormack (0-1), Gene Reilly, Ollie Harten, Andy McEvoy (0-1). Subs: Jim Smith, Kevin Shalvey.