Gowna 4-17 Kingscourt Stars 0-14

Gowna returned to the winners' enclosure in emphatic fashion with a 15-point win over holders Kingscourt Stars at Kingspan Breffni.

The Stars had beaten Gowna in the 2025 final by nine points and Vinny Corey’s men gained their revenge in highly impressive style, opening a 3-09 to 0-07 interval lead and managing the game thereafter.

The winners dominated in every sector, with goalkeeper Mark Brady’s pinpoint kick-outs providing the foundation but, in truth, there were at least 10 Man of the Match contenders on the winning side. Gowna had 11 different scorers in the first half and 13 in total, with their defence in imperious form against a Kingscourt forward line who ran amok last year.

This was a sensational performance from Gowna, who played with a pace and precision which Kingscourt simply could not match – and they could have won by more.

The tone was set inside the opening five minutes. Conor Brady took responsibility and drove through the centre to open the scoring before Eoghan Hartin intercepted Tom Martin’s first kick-out, allowing Conor Casey to curl over.

The next restart went over the sideline and Gowna punished the error again, Fiachra Brady stroking over after Cian Madden had taken on John McCullough.

When Cian Madden converted a free won by Oisín Pierson, Gowna led by four after seven minutes, Kingscourt having barely mounted an attack.

Jordan Morris got the Stars off the mark with a two-pointer from play but Gowna continued to dominate possession. Ryan Donohoe landed a two-point free after Casey was fouled and, although Caoimhín McGee replied following a clever Joe Dillon pass, the champions were already struggling badly.

The floodgates opened in the 20th minute. The Hartins combined to create an opening for Pierson, whose back-door cut took him behind the defence before he finished low to the net with his right foot.

Two minutes later, Odhran Madden picked out captain Conor Brady, who exploited the acres of space inside before slipping the ball to Seanie Hartin. Hartin’s finish to the bottom corner was clinical and suddenly Gowna were nine points clear.

Kingscourt captain Barry Tully blazed over from a goal chance after Dillon fielded the restart but Gowna were relentless. Ryan Donohoe powered through to create a score for Ryan Brady and Daire Madden held off Peter Corrigan before splitting the posts.

Morris converted a free but Tiarnan Madden replied in kind. When the Kingscourt talisman landed a magnificent two-point free from 50 metres, the Stars had at least stemmed the tide – but only briefly.

Casey intercepted a kick-out, drove straight at Martin and blasted to the net, leaving the half-time score at 3-09 to 0-07.

Kingscourt needed an immediate response and Morris converted an early free following a rare mix-up in the Gowna defence. The Stars made changes, with Kevin Curtis and Ciaran Dermody adding some energy and directness, but every time they threatened to build momentum, Gowna had an answer.

Cillian Brady was outstanding at full-back, repeatedly reading the danger and cutting out deliveries towards Padraig Faulkner, who had moved closer to goal.

One such interception launched an attack which ended with Pierson landing a two-pointer, underlining Gowna’s superiority at both ends.

Morris and Cian Shekleton converted frees before the latter had a glorious goal chance in the 44th minute. Faulkner broke a high delivery into his path but, one-on-one with Mark Brady, Shekleton lifted his shot too high and had to settle for a point.

It was the sort of chance Kingscourt simply had to take. Tiarnan Madden replied with a free and, although Curtis landed a superb two-pointer to reduce the deficit, Gowna remained firmly in control.

A perfectly-placed Mark Brady restart launched another flowing move, finished by Odhran Madden, as every Gowna player from number five to 15 got on the scoresheet.

Morris converted another free but there was no prospect of a comeback. Tiarnan Madden added a free before Cian Madden ran unchallenged through the heart of the Kingscourt defence and squared for Cillian Brady, outstanding at full-back all day, to palm home Gowna’s fourth goal.

Madden added another free and substitute Robbie Fitzpatrick completed the scoring as Gowna coasted home for their third title since 2022. The winners will meet Crossmaglen in the Ulster Club SFC quarter-final at Kingspan Breffni.

Gowna: Mark Brady; Fionán Brady, Cillian Brady (1-00), Eoghan Hartin; Fiachra Brady (0-01), Conor Brady (0-01), Tiarnan Madden (0-04f); Ryan Brady (0-01), Ryan Donohoe (0-02 2ptf); Conor Casey (1-01), Seanie Hartin (1-00), Daire Madden (0-01); Oisín Pierson (1-03, 2pt, 1f), Odhran Madden (0-01), Cian Madden (0-01f).

Subs: Conor Madden for C Casey (50), Robbie Fitzpatrick (0-1) for O Pierson, Ryan McGahern for R Brady, Cormac Brady for O Madden (all 58), Andrew Dewart for E Hartin (59).

Kingscourt Stars: Tom Martin; Killian Farrelly, John McCullough, Niall Sharkey; Barry Tully (0-01), Aaron Shekleton, Conor Ward; Padraig Faulkner, Paddy Meade; Damien McCormack, Peter Corrigan, Caoimhín McGee (0-01); Jordan Morris (0-08, 2pt, 2ptf, 4f), Joe Dillon, Cian Shekleton (0-02, 1f).

Subs: Kevin Curtis (0-02, 2pt) for D McCormack (33), Ciaran Dermody for C Ward (38), John McKeon for J Dillon (46), Shane Duffy for P Faulkner (temporary, 55).

Ref: Martin Sexton.