Ramor finish strongly to claim minor crown

Minor Championship Division 1 final

Ramor United 0-14

Killygarry 1-10

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

Ramor produced a stirring finale to claim a fourth Minor Championship in 10 seasons in this high-quality decider played as the curtain-raiser to the Senior Championship final.

The Virginia boys found themselves five points in arrears six minutes into the second half but reeled off 0-8 from there to the finish as they timed their run to perfection.

It was hard luck on last year’s champions, Killygarry, but they can take solace from the fact that they played their part in a very good final which was in the mix right to the 63rd minute; the standard on show certainly bodes well for Cavan football going forward.

A 15th minute penalty from Cian Keaney was all that separated the teams at the end of an evenly-contested first half.

Ramor opened the scoring with a lovely score from full-forward Ben O’Hara but a well-struck effort off the trusty left boot of Cian Keaney (free) soon levelled the sides.

A terrific run through the centre and finish from county minor player Oliver McCrystal nudged Ramor in front but the game was tied again on nine minutes when Killygarry joint-captain Neil Reilly turned sharply and fired over off the right.

From a Ramor kick-out, Freddie McGuigan broke the ball to Daragh Noonan, who tore off on a good run and added a finish to match.

Ramor left it all square for the third time on 14 minutes when Man of the Match Matthew Smith picked out captain Shane Keenan, who beat an opponent and pointed.

However, moments later, Killygarry put some daylight between the teams when Noonan latched on to a handpass in the square and was taken down. Ref Ollie Donohoe had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Keaney did the honours, burying his kick in the bottom right corner of Callum Kelly’s net.

Ramor replied with a 45 from Smith, whose place-kicking was outstanding, and after the sides traded wides, Smith stroked over another 45 to make it a one-point game again.

Killygarry midfielder Thomas Gilsenan broke through a couple of tackles before adding a good point. Aaron Tynan replied with a free but a Keaney free and Neil Reilly point from play saw Killygarry going in at half-time holding a three-point lead.

The Crubany-based side stretched their advantage to five on the resumption with a free from Noonan and a 35-metre point from McGuigan – but Ramor soon upped the ante.

Oliver McCrystal and Matthew Smith combined to release Ben O’Hara for a fine point off the left and a superb Christian Kermath effort, off the outside of the right, cut the gap further with seven second-half minutes played.

Gabriel Cosgrove found Keaney for a mark which the county player slotted over but Ramor responded well when Matthew Smith beat a defender and bombed over a huge point from 40 metres.

A Ben O’Hara free cut the gap to two but when Ramor registered two wides in a minute, it threatened to prove costly. However, the Conor McCrystal/Liam Brady-managed outfit kept their foot on the pedal and a 40-metre free off the ground from Smith after Cian McCrystal was fouled made it a one-point game with 53 minutes played.

Ramor missed a scoreable free when O’Hara’s shot hit the upright but the danger was not cleared; another free followed and Smith made no mistake.

The sides were now level and the excitement was at fever pitch. Ramor edged in front when Smith sent a perfect pass to Kermath, whose finish from a tight angle was top class.

But Killygarry responded with an excellent point of their own when Keaney curled in a difficult free from a tight angle as the game entered injury time.

As the clock ticked down, Ramor pushed up and were rewarded with the winner; Oliver McCrystal’s free found Keenan – he had Smith off the shoulder and the centre-forward kicked a brilliant point to seize the lead for his team.

Killygarry were off-target with a late effort and Ramor held on for a slender win after an enthralling hour’s football between two well-matched sides.

Killygarry: Callum Kelly, Kevin White, Ciaran Sheridan, Dean McNamara, Ben Murphy, Jude McManus, Gabriel Cosgrove, Thomas Gilsenan (0-1), Jamie McDonald, Freddie McGuigan (0-1), Daire Moran, Daragh Noonan (0-2, 1f), Ciaran Carty, Neil Reilly (0-2), Cian Keaney (1-4, 1-0 pen, 3f, 1m)

Subs: Declan Cosgrove for B Murphy (50)

Ramor United: Cillian Hagan, Nathan Fallon, Nathan Conway, Cian McCrystal, Christian Kermath (0-2), Shane Keenan (0-1), Niall Burns, Oliver McCrystal (0-1), Nathan Levy-Valensi, Noah Lotscher, Matthew Smith (0-6, two 45s, 2f), Daniel Keogan, Aaron Tynan (0-1f), Ben O’Hara (0-3, 1f), Sean O’Donoghue

Subs: Sean Cullen for S O’Donoghue (38 mins), Conor Brady for N Fallon (41), Ben Mulvey for D Keogan (44)

Ref: Ollie Donohoe