Cavan Gaels got their senior football championship campaign off to a winning start on Saturday evening by handing a Lavey a 4-17 to 1-15 defeat in Drumalee.

Stephen Murray and Martin Dunne netted the first-half goals which put Ronan Clarke’s men on the path to victory at St Felim’s Park, where they led by 2-9 to 0-4 at the half.

Sean Johnston supplied the town side’s third goal 11 minutes into the second-half before Danny Cusack pulled one back for the New Inns men.

The scoreboard read 3-17 to 1-14 when Johnston fired in his second major on the hour mark, ensuring two points for the Gaels whom take on Crosserlough next weekend.

Holders Castlerahan also made a winning start by overcoming Killygarry’s challenge on Saturday in Lacken, where it finished 1-14 to 1-10.

The Ballyjamesduff men had built up a four-point lead when Enda Flanagan hit the net for them on the half-hour mark, leaving it at 1-8 to 0-4 at the half.

Killygarry hit points through Conor Smith, Martin Reilly and Ross Sheridan to reduce the deficit but still couldn’t get within touching distance despite Sheridan netting them a goal in the third minute of injury-time.

Cavan Gaels' Sean Johnston and Gerry Smith of Lavey

In Crubany, Lacken came from behind to see off Cootehill on a 2-12 to 2-6 score-line which gives them two early points in the race for the Oliver Plunkett Cup.

Dermie Connolly’s goal helped Cootehill to lead by 2-3 to 0-7 at the half but the men from Crowe Park rallied in the second-half to live up to their billing as 8/11 favourites.

The early clash on Sunday afternoon saw last year’s beaten finalists Crosserlough scoring a 4-8 to 1-10 win against Shercock in Lavey.

The Kilnaleck men struck two goals in the opening 15 minutes at the New Inns and never looked back after going in at the half with a 2-5 to 1-4 advantage.

In Virginia, Kingscourt Stars bagged themselves two early points after defeating Gowna by 0-12 to 0-9.

The 2015 champions made a splendid start with points from Barry Reilly (2) and Padraig Faulkner before Gowna hit back via scores from Conor Madden, Oisin Pierson (2) and Conor Brady that left it at 0-4 each for the interval.

Despite being reduced to 14 men with the dismissal of Shane Duffy early in the restart, the Stars hit the front and stayed there through the frees of marksman Reilly and points from Philly Tinnelly and Cian Shekleton to score the win as Gowna’s Andrew Dewart picked up a second yellow card in the meantime.

Check out the draw for the second round of senior championship fixtures alongs with Round 3 of the intermediate and junior championships right here.

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