Ramor goals down gutsy Castlerahan
MFL Division Two final
Two timely goals, one in each half, proved to be all-important as Ramor upheld their favourites" status to claim this year"s MFL Division Two title last weekend at Kilnaleck.
On a sodden pitch understandably bordering on the unplayable, the game was a full-blooded affair but, ultimately, it was the concession of two rather soft goals which coloured the 60 minutes-plus of action most of all.
While the slow pitch contributed handsomely to some turgid football, the game was never less than entertaining and it wasn"t until the advent of the final quarter that the identity of the would-be winners became evident.
Having lost out to Ramor in their earlier league meeting, there was a palpable sense of books needing to be balanced from a maroon and white perspective as the game got underway.
And so it was that, even in the face of the wind, the Ballyjamesduff-based side demonstrated a suitable pep in their step with a Paul Smith free - after a foul on Enda Flanagan - getting Castlerahan up and running after three minutes.
Sadly for the underdogs, that was to be the one and only time they managed to get their noses in front as Ramor quickly went about making themselves comfortably rooted to the driver"s seat.
Three unanswered points from Jack Brady between the 9th and 14th minutes - the second of which was the result of some particularly fine Ramor interplay - edged the Virginia-based side into a lead they never really subsequently looked like relinquishing.
That said, Castlerahan stuck to their task with great vim and vigour and a point from Enda Flanagan left just one between the sides as the second quarter got to its feet.
Defending the town end of the pitch, Ramor had to be on their toes in the face of some threatening Castlerahan attacks and, in that respect, players like Colm Murphy, Enda Farrelly and Colm Murphy certainly cut a dash.
With Ramor leading by the odd point in five, the second quarter was largely a stagnant period with defences ruling the roost and the yielding sod making life extremely hard for those trying to inflict damage at the business end of the field.
There was no score between the 16th and 26th minutes but that barren spell was to be guillotined in stark, vital fashion.
There seemed to be no obvious threat to Castlerahan"s goal as Chris Shiels lined up a "45.
However a short pass to Greg Kerrigan ended with the ball being lofted goalwards and eventually all the way high into the net.
Young Kerrigan"s rather fortuitous goal hoised United into a 1-3 to 0-2 interval lead but it was a lead which was to come under sustained attack on the restart.
Castlerahan recorded three unanswered points inside the opening six minutes of the second half with Cian McEnroe, Enda Flanagan and Paul Smith (free) all on target.
With just a single point between the sides, the tension was all but palpable but stalemate was the order of hte game for the following five minutes before Ramor hit the jackpot once again.
Castlerahan rather shot themselves in the foot when they were dispossessed in their own danger area by Cian Wogan and a quick transfer of the ball to Chris Shiels saw the forty-yards" man firmly rifle the ball to the net to put Ramor 2-3 to 0-5 in front.
From there to the finish, Castlerahan bravely fought a losing battle with Cian McEnroe"s 44th minute free their sole score in the run-up to the final whistle.
The physically-stronger Ramor side had no such ill-luck in front of goal though with points from Jack Brady, Kevin Mulvanny and James Bradley (56th min) putting the issue well and truly beyond doubt.
Ramor Utd:
Alan Tracey; Colm Lynch, Enda Farrelly, Darren Lynch; Cian Gargan, Colm Murphy, Adam O"Connell; Greg Kerrigan (1-0), Simon Cadden; Ronan Smith, Chris Shiels (1-0), Killian Tracey; Cian Wogan, Kevin Mulvanny (0-1), Jack Brady (0-4).
Sub used; James Bradley (0-1).
Castlerahan:
Damien Galligan; Patrick Cosgrove, David Rice, Fergal Reilly; Gavin Reilly, Stephen Cooney; Cormac Hannon, Zac Diamond; Ronan Branch, Daniel McNamee, Paul Smith (0-2); Enda Flanagan (0-2), Cian McEnroe (0-2), Padraig McGahern.
Subs used; Padraig Flanagan; Aaron O"Brien.
