Cavan 2-16

Na Fianna 0-9

CAVAN Ladies made no mistake at the second time of asking to secure their fourth title on the trot and their 14 in the history of the competition, the Sean Faherty Championship.

After they tied the game at two points apiece they never again fell behind as they used a suffocating defense to shut out the Na Fianna offense that had done so much damage a week earlier. With Mary Maguire playing a captain's part the result was always going to be a Cavan victory.

Na Fianna jumped on the scoreboard first with two points from Molly O'Rourke. Both came from frees, with the second in an easier position after Cavan apparently told the ref what they felt about the infringement.

When the dust settled it was all Cavan for the next 10 minutes. They had chance upon chance, but the only changes were to the wide total. They had six on the board before Emma Clarke drove a point from play over.

It was followed by a screaming point by Rosie O'Reilly after an excellent catch and turn. Nora McGrail helped it over to save a possible goal.

Cavan again won the kick out, and they had their third and a slim lead with Marie O'Neill tapping over. They pinned Na Fianna deep in their own half and constantly won the kick outs to drive it back into offensive territory.

Clarke again added to the total from a free before the only attack in the period for Na Fianna resulted in an excellent Mary O'Rourke score when she linked with namesake Mary P.

Cavan again steamrolled down the field and put a further four points on the board as they extended their lead to five. The O'Rourke girls pulled two back for the underdogs, but when Imelda Mullarkey was sent to the sin bin with five minutes left on the clock after a robust challenge on Renee Murphy it opened a door for Cavan that they cantered through.

Murphy added a point from play, and then an eight player move that originated with Maguire ended with Kelly McArdle blasting to the net from the 10 yard line. It gave Cavan an impressive lead of 1-9 to 0-5.

Na Fianna made a spirited comeback to open the second half. They had a point from Molly O'Rourke and were threatening.

Cavan were adept at shutting them down, however, and they stormed back into attack with McArdle coming alive. She fired over a free from the right with the trusty left peg and then followed it with a point from play.

When O'Neill fired a free from the left over it was again a Cavan nine point advantage. They had a chance at effectively killing the game when Ciara Moore broke in on goal, but McGrail made a fantastic save to deny the Breffni girl.

Three unanswered scores from Mairead Wall and Molly O'Rourke (two) narrowed the advantage, but it Na Fianna's their last hurrah as Cavan, through O'Reilly, had three to cancel them out. Each score was from a more difficult angle for the girl who now holds 13 county medals in New York.

After a Moore point, Aimee Gomez had the last score of the contest, a goal when she dived to fist home a rebound of her own shot.

Cavan were more than deserving of their win. They had weapons across the field that performed for the full hour and were not going to allow a repeat of the drawn game. Ger Rice made some important catches under the cross bar. Her kicks were tremendous.

Mary Maguire was outstanding at full back. Roisin Clarke and Ailish Cornyn did a mountain of work in the half back line. Renee Murphy was by far the best of the midfielders, and her strong runs up the center pegged Na Fianna back on the defensive.

Marie O'Neill, Emma Clarke and Kelly McArdle all had exceptional moments; Caitlin Hynes was very unlucky to be taken off as she had some very strong moments. Ciara Moore and Rosie O'Reilly, who fired over four points, three when she helped to put the game away, were brilliant wing forwards.

Na Fianna should be very proud of their contribution to the two games. Nora McGrail again had a outstanding game. Jesse Garcia, Karen Henry, Aine Dwyer, Linda Wall, Mairead Wall and Molly O'Rourke all had valuable contributions on the day.

While the men's game in Ireland and New York is full of players wasting time and feigning injury, it was a pity to see it for the second week in a Ladies county final. It has no place.

Cavan: 1 Ger Rice, 2 Catherina Smith, 3 Mary Maguire, 4 Justine Clifford, 5 Aimee Gomez (1-0), 6 Aisling Cornyn, 7 Roisin Clarke, 8 Linda McKeon, 9 Renee Murphy (0-3), 10 Ciara Moore (0-1), 11 Marie O'Neill (0-3), 12 Rosie O'Reilly (0-4), 13 Kelly McArdle (1-3), 14 Emma Clarke (0-0), 15 Caitlin Hynes. Subs: Orlagh Cullan, Ashley Callery, Katie Kilkenny.

Na Fianna: 1 Nora McGrail, 2 Stephanie Bush, 3 Jesse Garcia, 4 Ashley Brophy, 5 Karen Henry, 6 Joanne Monaghan, 7 Stephanie Tierney, 8 Linda Wall, 9 Aine Dwyer (0-1), 10 Ann Ryan, 11 Mairead Wall (0-1), 12 Imelda Mullarkey, 13 Grace Kelly, 14 Mary P. O'Rourke (0-7), 15 Mary R. O'Rourke.

Referee: Vivian Hardiman (Western Gaels, Roscommon).

Player of the game: Mary Maguire (Cavan).