LEINSTER Senior club football champions, Eire Og were far from their at best, but still proved too good for challengers, Rathvilly, as they won their 21st Carlow senior football championship title at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

An attendance of 2,000 witnessed a scrappy game in which Eire Og made a lethargic start and appeared to be in trouble when trailing 1-2 to 0-2 after the opening quarter.

The Rathvilly goal had come from left corner forward Paddy Molloy, with both points being scored by Niall Rennicks, the Meath man who coached the Wicklow senior football team.

Eire Og had started the match with an unusual team formation and it was only when John Courtney's side returned to a more orthodox shape that the fluency returned to their play.

Willie Quinlan provided the breakthrough the Leinster champions were seeking in the 23rd minute when he found the net after Paul McCarthy's free kick had struck the Rathvilly woodwork.

Spurred on by that goal. Eire Og went on to lead 1-6 to 1-2 at half time.

Anthony Keating scored the opening three points of the second half from placed balls as Eire Og went into a seven point lead.

Rathvilly, forced to field without their star county player, Noel Doyle, who is injured, had plenty of second half possession but inability to score proved their Achilles heel.

Gowna won the Cavan senior football championship title for only the third time in the club's history, and their first since 1994, when they overcame near neighbours Mullahoran in the final at Cootehill.