Favourites Gowna got their first of this year’s Cavan senior football championship by defeating rivals Crosserlough on a 0-18 to 2-7 scoreline at Kingspan Breffni last night.

Having drawn with Ballyhaise in their opener last weekend, Vinny Corey’s men made a strong start against their Kilnaleck counterparts in Cavan Town that saw them out to a 0-8 to 1-1 lead after 20 minutes.

Despite conceding a James Smith goal inside two minutes, the scores of Daire Madden, Cian Madden, Fiachra Brady and Oisin Pierson saw the 2023 champions taking control. An Odhrán Madden two-pointer would put eight between the teams before Smith pulled back a sorely needed goal for Crosserlough on the eve of half-time (0-13 to 2-2).

Finbar O’Reilly’s side, who edged victory over Arva on Wednesday night, got back to within three after the change of ends with points by Smith and Cavan ace Paddy Lynch (2, 1 ‘45’ and 1 free) but couldn’t close the gap as scores from Tiaran Madden and Cian Madden secured the win for Gowna.

In Crosskeys, Cavan Gaels bounced back from their first-round loss to Mullahoran by handing Laragh United an emphatic 1-29 to 0-12 defeat.

Scores late in the first-half from Emmanuel Shehu and Niall Murray helped the Gaels to hold a 0-13 to 0-9 advantage at the break and they’d find another gear after the change of ends.

Paul Graham’s two-pointer got the 14-time champions motoring as scores via Jack Tully and Xabi McCaffrey (2) saw the margin between the sides growing to 10 and it’d be double that come the final whistle.

Meanwhile, Castlerahan picked up their first win in the Oliver Plunkett Cup race at the expense of Ballyhaise as it finished 2-20 to 3-15 in Lavey.

Ballyhaise held a 1-10 to 1-5 advantage at the interval, but a goal from Rory Smith was backed up by an Enda Flanagan two-pointer for the Ballyjamesuff men to move in front come the 40th minute.

Ballyhaise responded brilliantly as two goals from Eoin Clarke in the space of three minutes looked like sending them on the way to victory, but the 2019 winners would register six of the last seven points to snatch the win.  

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