Hotel Kilmore Cavan Senior Football Championship final: Ramor United 0-10 Castlerahan 0-8
WHO says you can’t change the goalie for a final replay? Like Mayo in the All-Ireland, Ramor United swapped netminders as Liam Brady replaced Aaron Farrelly for yesterday’s Oliver Plunkett Cup re-run.
But, unlike Mayo, they emerged with the title – their first Cavan senior crown in 24 years. Goalkeeper Brady played his part between the posts but it was Adrian Cole’s contribution at the other end of the field, with four points from play, that made the difference.
His accuracy spearheaded Ramor’s rally from 0-5 to 0-1 down midway through the first half to a deserved twopoint win against an overlydefensive Castlerahan outfit.
Ramor began the game without injured joint captains Damien Barkey and Jack Brady and manager Micheal McDermott praised their young replacements.
“The players put in a fantastic effort this year,” he said.
“County championships are so hard won. Two weeks ago, people would have said we left it behind us. This week we came out battling against all the elements. Our two captains were out injured but we fought and fought.
“The strength of the panel, the strength of the young lads… Matty Magee is only a minor and he came in today and did a fantastic job so it’s a wonderful feeling to win.”
Meanwhile, Castlerahan, losers by a point in last year’s final, made the journey home without breaking their championship duck.
The game looked theirs for the taking when they went four points up, but instead of kicking on they retreated into a defensive shell and were picked off.
“We got off to the start we wanted,” said manager Michael Reilly.
“Ramor were always going to get to grips with the game and push us all the way. A county final is always going to be tight and a final between two neighbouring clubs is always going to be tighter. “We got the last few scores the first day and, unfortunately for us, Ramor got the last few today to win the game.
He added: “It’s very disappointing after losing last year to lose again today. But they are very talented boys and there’s no doubt they will be back.”
It was Ramor who posted the first score of a cagey opening yesterday. Cathal Maguire had already fired a shot wide when raiding cornerback Micheal Smart was fouled, setting up a tap-over free for Conor Bradley.
His fellow number 11, Cian McEnroe, replied for Castlerahan who burst into life and scored the next four points thanks to some pacey, energetic football.
Stephen Cooney made ground up the right wing and blasted over an audacious score before playmaker Cian Mackey added another from distance.
With sweeper Ronan Flanagan leading by example, the Castlerahan defenders threw themselves into blocks and then charged forward with ball in hand and Cooney popped up on the right to send a swerving right-foot shot over the bar via the upright.
Then Mackey started, and finished, another flowing move and his side were 0-5 to a point ahead and in control of the game.
Ramor were on the rack but they pushed out and denied Castlerahan the space to run into and gradually fought their way back into the game. Another Bradley free cut the deficit to three and Cathal Maguire landed Ramor’s first score from play after 18 minutes.
The second arrived 60 seconds later when Cole turned Brian Coleman and fired over from an acute angle. From then until the interval, the game became increasingly scrappy.
Both sides, particularly Castlerahan, had massed ranks behind the ball and looked to put ponderous handpassing moves together after turning over possession.
Scoring chances were few and far between but in injury time Ramor midfielder Stephen Monaghan had a go from distance and Cole challenged Castlerahan ’keeper Jamie Leahy and flicked the ball over the bar to leave it all-square, 0-5 apiece, at the break.
Kevin Mulvanny had an early second half goal chance for Ramor.
Castlerahan survived but their lack of offensive ambition was hard to understand given their first half success.
One minute Mackey was on his own in the Ramor half with three defenders for company, the next Castlerahan had no-one inside their opponents’ 45-yard line.
Despite that, Cian McEnroe gave them the lead with a right-foot shot but Cole quickly cancelled it out with an equally exquisite finish.
Goalkeeper Brady hit an upright from a long-range free but Conor Bradley was quickly on to the rebound to give Ramor the lead for the second time in the game.
They never lost it.
Jack Brady, on as a substitute, extended the advantage to two before Castlerahan, who threw Paul Brady on to beef up their attack, pulled one back through Mackey.
Cole took Killian Maguire’s pass to restore Ramor’s two-point cushion going into three minutes of injury time and two of them had elapsed before Mackey’s free left one in it again. It all hinged on the kick-out and Cathal Magee crucially won it for Ramor.
A foul on Gary McNamee meant his side had one hand on the Oliver Plunkett Cup. Maguire knocked it over and referee Noel Mooney blew it up.
Ramor will deservedly celebrate their success before they turn their attention to Ulster and Armagh champions Maghery next weekend.
