Hotel Kilmore Cavan Senior Football Championship final replay: Castlerahan v Ramor United (tomorrow, Kingspan Breffni Park, 4pm)
FORMER Cavan selector Sean Farrelly thinks experienced Castlerahan can get the better of youthful Ramor United second time around in tomorrow’s Cavan SFC final at Kingspan Breffni Park where they will face Ramor Utd.
“I fancied Castlerahan the last time and I’ll stick with them to finish off the job this time around,” said Farrelly who was a mentor when Kingscourt Stars lifted the county title in 2010.
“To be honest, I think it’s now or never for this particular group of Castlerahan footballers – especially considering that this is their fourth final in the past six years.
“Some of their players can’t keep coming back, year after year, and finish the season with nothing to show for their efforts. Fellas like Cian Mackey, Ronan Flanagan and Sean Brady must be sick of being on losing county final sides at this stage.”
Castlerahan’s full-back Brian Coleman salvaged a 2-11 to 3-8 draw for his side with a levelling point four minutes into added time in last Sunday’s first encounter.
Ramor United looked a gift horse in the mouth after building a fivepoint lead with just three minutes of normal time left to play.
The notion that Ramor faltered in the run-in and blew their 2-11 to 2-6 lead they enjoyed with 57 minutes on the clock because of inexperience – 10 of their starters are still U21 – finds some traction with Farrelly.
“Ramor have time on their side and I’m sure their day will come but right at the present time, I think they lack enough seasoned players in their ranks who can steady the ship when it’s needed, the type of players who can slow the game down and dictate the game at important times,” he said.
“Castlerahan have leaders throughout the field and I think their need is definitely much greater and that should spur them on in a big way. They have the know-how to go one better on Sunday.
“There won’t be much between them, though. It’ll be another close affair but, as we found out last year, Castlerahan are a very hard nut to crack.
“They work very hard with the ball but especially without the ball and they should have enough about them to finally break their duck in the championship.”
Both teams have significant injury worries for tomorrow’s decider with Castlerahan’s Enda Flanagan (broken jaw) and Ramor’s county star Jack Brady (hamstring) both likely to miss out on starting the game at least.
“Jack Brady would be a huge miss for Ramor and that’s all they need because I’m afraid that the fact that they threw away a six-point lead with 10 minutes left to play will have been eating away at them all week,” said Farrelly.
“Losing such a lead can be demoralising. You’d nearly be better off just having a one- or two-point lead and being caught on the line but that’s all water under the bridge now.
“Psychologically and physically Ramor could be under pressure for the replay with losing the lead and with the superior strength Castlerahan have around the middle of the field.”
