Munterconnacht 2-7
Shannon Gaels 2-6

Munterconnacht edged themselves into a second consecutive Cavan junior football championship final tonight thanks to a late win over Shannon Gaels at Kingspan Breffni Park.

In a dramatic finish, a tally of 1-2 from full-forward Darragh Carroll was crucial for winners in coming from behind in the final ten minutes to secure a one-point victory and book themselves into next month's decider against either Arva or Shercock, whom drew in the evening's earlier game.

Despite playing the better football in the first-half, James Cole's team only led by the minimum at the half-way stage after Sean Nolan's superb goal on 21 minutes was cancelled-out by Enda McHugh's close range strike.

Shannon Gaels would move into the lead in the second-half when Eamonn Reilly struck a 45th minute goal, as they looked set for their first junior championship decider since the 2007 defeat to Killeshandra, but they were stunned by a Carroll penalty in the 55th minute, which proved just enough to see Munterconnacht over the line.

In a game which only saw six scorers over the entire hour, veteran John McCabe had 'the Munchies' off the mark inside two minutes with a slick turn and shot which landed between the uprights.

Niall Walsh posted the reply for Shannon Gaels through a well-struck free, but it was Cole's charges that were edging things in the opening stages as they continued to find McCabe's runs inside, with two more points from the corner-forward outweighing another Walsh free.

Walsh dragged a goal chance for the Gaels just wide in the 19th minute, which let their opponents off the hook, and they would be made pay for the missed opportunity in the next meaningful attack.

After nabbing possession ahead of his marker along the right flank, a deadly burst of speed from Sean Nolan saw the wing-forward rip through the Blacklion outfit's defence untouched and bury a devastating finish beyond Shane McGovern to the net.

Shannon Gaels responded with a Daniel O'Hara point two minutes later and they would be gifted a goal five minutes before the break when a long ball into the Munterconnacht square was fumbled in the full-back line and sat up perfectly for midfielder Enda McHugh to lash home and square the sides.

A fine score from Carroll would dersevedly edge the east Cavan side back in front just before half-time, with the score-board reading 1-4 to 1-3.

Munterconnacht introduced Stephen Keogan to their attack after just three minutes of the second-half, but it was Eugene Walsh's side that would have the first say of the resumption when Eamonn Reilly beat marker Peter Cullen to possession, turned and split the posts.

After that a 12-minute scoring drought ensued, as both sides grafted hard but produced very little, before a Carroll free put 'the Munchies' noses back in front approaching the closing quarter.

The score looked to swing the momentum back Munterconnacht's way but they were sucker-punched right on the third quarter mark when Walsh fetched a high ball on the edge of the square and offloaded to Eamonn Reilly in front of the posts from where the experienced full-forward made no mistake in rifling to the roof of James Baugh's net.

Stunned by the goal, Munterconnacht's weren't aided when defender Thomas Brady was forced off with injury but they did grab a crucial score through the reliable Carroll to bring it back to a one-point game with just over ten minutes to go.

The westerners responded with a white flag from Enda McHugh as they looked to have one foot in the final.

However, Munterconnacht simply wouldn't give in and it was midfielder Danny Nolan that would ignite them when he's sizzling run through the centre saw him ghost past two Gaels defenders before being axed down in the square and earning his side a penalty with 55 minutes on the clock.

Under a mountain of pressure, Carroll kept his kick low and the ball slid underneath Shane McGovern's dive to the back of the net to hand back Cole's men the initiative.

The Gaels threw men forward in desperate search of an equaliser, but Munterconnacht's defence held out and would catch their opponents on the break to find Carroll unmarked down the other end for the full-forward's fourth point.

In six minutes of injury-time Shannon Gaels couldn't find a third goal to win them the game and instead had to settle for a Walsh free which left them a point short and Munterconnacht with another county final to savour.

Munterconnacht: James Baugh; Thomas Brady, Peter Cullen, Tadgh Morrissey; Owen Healy, Terry McCabe, James Hetherton; Danny Nolan, Brendan O Se; Stephen Sheridan, Brian Cullen, Sean Nolan (1-0); Colm Caffrey, Darragh Carroll (1-4, 1 pen, 3f), John McCabe (0-3). Subs: Shane O'Reilly for Hetherton (28mins), Stephen Keogan for C Caffrey (33mins), Padraig O'Dwyer for Thomas Brady (53mins, inj).

Shannon Gaels: Shane McGovern; Aaron O'Hara, Peader Fitzpatrick, Stephen McManus; Johnny Corrigan, Jason McLoughlin, Stephen McGrath; Enda McHugh (1-1), Ollie Nolan; Paul McGovern, PP O'Hara, Daniel O'Hara; Niall Walsh (0-3, 3f), Eamon Reilly (1-1), Nevin O'Donnell. Subs: Ronan McCaffrey for N O'Donnell (44mins), Kenny McNiff for S McManus (59mins), Nevin O'Donnell for P McGovern (60mins).

Ref: James Clarke (Killinkere) Tweet

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