Kingscourt 1-11
Templeport 1-9

Kingscourt Stars left it late to edge Templeport in this afternoon's Minor Football Championship 'C' final at Kingspan Breffni Park.

'Man of the Match' Cian Shekleton struck for 1-7, including the game's winning goal in injury-time, as the Stars triumphed over the western counterparts in a thoroughly entertaining third tier decider.

Gavin Donohoe's goal five minutes before half-time had Templeport in front after an evenly contested first-half and the sides had proved inseparable throughout the second before Shekleton dealt the decisive blow for the team managed by David Burke and Pat Faulkner.

The sides had been level five times in the opening 25 minutes before Donohoe's strike gave Templeport the breakthrough.

Conor Mimna's free had the west siders up and running after two minutes with a free before a brace from Cian Shekleton put the town side into their first lead by the sixth minute.

Jack Kelly levelled from the full-forward position for Templeport prior to Mimna and Kevin Curtis cancelling each other out with a fine score each.

Shekleton, Kelly and Mimna (free) all upped their tallies before Robert Browne's placed ball sailed over the crossbar of Templeport 'keeper Joe Kiernan to square the sides for a fifth time.

Naoise McKenna saw a goal opportunity well stopped by Kingscourt number one Andrew Clarke just prior to that leveller but Thomas Doonan's side would have the ball in the Meath border side's net soon afterwards.

A splendid burst forward from Donohoe ended with the midfielder driving a deadly finish past Clarke for three points, but Shekleton ensured Kingscourt were right there in contention for half-time as he came up with another pair of points to leave it at 1-5 to 0-7.

Shekleton levelled it for the sixth time with a free four minutes into the restart before a brace from Shane Duffy was erased by back-to-back points from Eoin McCaffrey and Naoise McKenna.

Kingscourt had the opportunity to pull four in front, hitting the upright with both goal and point opportunities, while Templeport sub Ryan Kelly also saw a goal chance brilliantly turned around the post by Andrew Clarke in the Stars' goal.

Shekleton and McCaffrey kept it even heading into the injury-time but when the former got the opportunity to hit the net he'd make no mistake, rounding his man in a flash and burying the ball past Kiernan for the umpire's green flag.

Templeport very nearly responded in kind but centre-forward McKenna hit the butt of the post prior to Paul McBrien sending the rebound just wide, as the Stars held on for a coveted victory.

Kingscourt: Andrew Clarke; John McCullagh, Nathan Farrell; Liam Kierans, Shane McCullough, Conor Carolan; Kevin Curtis, Paddy Meade; Shane Duffy (0-2), Jack Kelly (0-1), Robert Browne (0-1, 1f); Dylan McCabe, Cian Shekleton (1-7, 1f). Subs: Alex Corscadden for L Kierans (HT), Shane Clarke for D McCabe (43mins), Cian McCormack for C Carolan (51), L Kierans for R Browne (60), Oisin Cunningham for C McCormack (60, b/c).

Templeport: Joe Kiernan; Jason Doonan, Paul McBrien; Peter Devine, Aaron Donohoe, Ciaran McManus; Shane Galligan, Gavin Donohoe (1-0); Jack Kelly (0-2), Naoise McKenna (0-2, 1f), James Murphy; Eoin McCaffrey (0-2), Conor Mimna (0-3, 2f). Subs: Ciaran King for A Donohoe (34mins, inj), Ryan Kelly for N McKenna (51), N McKenna for C Mimna (60).

Ref: Jim Giblin (Arva)

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