What if Cooma goalkeeper Jakob Cole hadn't been sent off for taking out Gungahlin United's Michael John in the last line of defence?

What if Mark Shields hadn't been suspended for the grand final? What if Nicolas Abot and Roko Strika were on the park?

What if they had the answers for a Jeremy Habtemariam onslaught to avoid a 5-0 thrashing in the Canberra Premier League grand final?

Alas, he could do nothing to avoid Gungahlin lifting the championship trophy at Deakin Stadium on Saturday.

"It's very disappointing. Honestly we started playing well, and after that red card for Jakob, we found it very hard to control," Fureje said.

"We played really well with 10 men and fought all the way. The referee's decisions weren't on our side.

MORE CANBERRA SPORT

"It changed everything. At the beginning of the game, we were doing what the coach wanted us to do.

"We had our chances, we didn't finish the chances, but after the red card everything had to change.

"It was very hard for us but we still fought with 10 men and played really well, it's unlucky."

Cooma were already one goal in arrears when Cole saw red and the floodgates would soon open as Habtemariam hit his second before Antoni Timotheou and Micheal John rammed home the advantage.

Gungahlin United coach Marcial Munoz says it was only a matter of time before the Gunners struck and they rose to the occasion to mark a stunning shutout.

"The attacking team we are, the goal was going to come sooner or later," Munoz said.

"The pressure was just going to build from there for us anyway. We're a team that likes to hold onto the ball.

"I knew they were going to appeal to a more physical game like it turned out to be, so we just needed to ensure we kept the ball and kept them moving."

Again, Fureje could do little more as the clock wound down than prepare to face the inevitable. It will forever be a stain on their season - yet it remains a remarkable campaign.

"We're very happy with what we've done this year, honestly," Fureje said.

"The boys did a very hard pre-season, hard season, we were coming first and lost the minor premiership in the last two games. We won the FFA Cup and had a big game against Hume City [in the round of 32]."

AT A GLANCE

Canberra Premier League grand finals

Men's: GUNGAHLIN UNITED 5 (Jeremy Habtemariam 20', 57', Antoni Timotheou 76', Micheal John 84', 88') bt COOMA TIGERS 0 at Deakin Stadium.

Valeri Medal: Jeremy Habtemariam

Women's: BELCONNEN UNITED 1 (Caitlin Munoz 118') bt CANBERRA FC 0 at Deakin Stadium.

Player of the match: Michaela Day