Ramor hold off Gowna in league clash

ACFL Division 1

Ramor United 3-8

Gowna 0-16

Paul Fitzpatrick at Dolan Park

Ramor held off a strong finish from Gowna to take their sixth win of the campaign at a sunny Dolan Park.

Both sides were understrength; Ramor started with seven of their 2021 Championship-winning side while Gowna also started seven of their 15 who started their county final last year.

The hosts looked like they would run away with it when they opened a 1-6 to 0-1 lead playing some lovely direct football after 23 minutes but with Oisin Pierson making a big impact off the bench, Gowna upped the ante and, in the end, the home team were glad to hear the final whistle.

Gowna opened the scoring with a Daire Madden free before Ramor racked up 1-6 unanswered. The goal was palmed in at the back post by Jack Doyle after Conor Bradley, Cathal Maguire and Seanie Keogan all did well.

The points came from Liam Brady (45-metre free), James Bradley, Maguire, Keogan, Killian Maguire and a fisted Conor Bradley effort, with Ado Cole providing the assist for several of Ramor’s scores, as he did all evening.

Gowna lost Ryan Madden after an unfortunate clash of heads and his replacement, Oisin Pierson, gave Gowna renewed impetus, with Conor Casey lending a hand at midfield. The visitors lifted their game with scores from Aaron Brady, Mark McKeever, a beautiful strike from Pierson and a Daire Madden free before a Conor Bradley free made it 1-7 to 0-5 at half-time.

Pierson fired over two more quality points on the resumption. Bradley replied with a free after a foul on Cole but Pierson scored again to make it 1-8 to 0-8 and then added a free.

But Ramor stopped the rot with a well-worked goal. Cole laid off for Cathal Maguire, who beat two defenders and rattled the bottom corner of the net with the left foot.

Aaron Brady hit back with a great strike but Ramor’s third goal was crucial. Anthony Monaghan won Brady’s kick-out, Jack Brady sent it long and accurately to Conor Bradley who gathered and planted a perfect finish to the top corner.

At 3-8 to 0-10, that seemed to be that but Gowna never gave up and rattled over the last six points from Aaron Brady, Pierson (two, one free), Casey (free), Ryan Brady and Seanie Harten had a goalbound effort cleared off the line by James Bradley as Ramor hung on to shade it.

Ramor United: Liam Brady (0-1f), Lorcan Lynch, Mark Magee, Killian Brady, Matthew Magee, Jack Brady, Ben Smith, Gareth Mannion, Killian Maguire (0-1), Cathal Maguire (1-1), Conor Bradley (1-3, 2f), James Bradley, Jack Doyle (1-0), Ado Cole (0-1), Seanie Keogan (0-1)

Subs: Ronan Cullen, Anthony Monaghan

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Fionn Harten, James Madden, Cormac Brady, Ryan Brady (0-1), Fionán Brady, Seanie Harten (0-1), Mark McKeever (0-1), Raymond Keogh, Shane Harton, Aaron Brady (0-3), DJ Madden, Conor Casey (0-1f), Ryan Madden, Daire Madden (0-2f)

Subs: Oisin Pierson (0-7, 2f), Mark Brady, Cian Harten

Ref: Martin Sexton