Ramor impress in win over lacklustre Gowna

Senior Football Championship round 4

Ramor United 1-13

Gowna 0-9

Paul Fitzpatrick at St Matthew’s Park

Ramor United turned on the style in the second half to continue their fine record against Gowna in this round four clash played in sweltering heat at Crosskeys.

The Virginia men grew into the game but the pity was that with two of the best teams in the county meeting, there wasn’t more on the line. Traditionally, the beauty of championship was that it was a life-or-death high-wire act but the current format in Cavan provides the comfort of a harness and a couple of safety nets.

The result is that these heavyweight clashes are fought with padded gloves; from a distance, they look like the real thing but there is something missing.

That’s not to take away from Ramor, who were full value for their win here and played some really good stuff, but while the teams went at it competitively, that do-or-die championship spark was missing, which was a real shame given that this was a clash between the last two senior champions which had little or nothing riding on it bar the trifling matter of which one would finish third and which one fourth or fifth in the table.

The first half was full of mistakes and bad football. Ramor looked to move the ball quickly with the foot but their execution of the kick pass was very poor and it was only closer to half-time that they reverted to running it and tacked on a few scores, although Gowna were down a man during that spell after Darragh McConnon picked up a black card 20 minutes in.

At the other end, Gowna created plenty of chances but couldn’t finish; the champions had 11 shots in the first half and scored three.

Ramor opened the scoring with an excellent point from the right wing by Jack Brady but after that, quality football was limited. Gowna had three early wides, all very scoreable, before opening their account with a Cian Madden free in the ninth minute.

Their lacklustre first-half performance was typified when Oisin Pierson, back in the side after injury, failed to rise the ball from a 45.

Gowna’s best point of the first half fell to Cian Madden, who curled over spectacularly with the left foot, but Ramor replied on 14 minutes with a well-taken score from the in-form Cathal Maguire after a textbook dispossession from his brother Enda.

Given the warm conditions, ref James Clarke allowed the teams take a 60-second water break and after it, Ramor prospered. A Shane Keenan point after a good move nudged them back in front on 22 minutes and Eoin Somerville soon fisted over another, again after a well-constructed attack.

Ryan Donohoe broke clear with that long stride and stroked over a well-taken point but Ramor finished the half stronger, James Bradley converting a free after a foul on Somerville and then Killian Maguire, replacing Ado Cole in the target man role, squeezing over a point in tight confines after excellent work from Mark Magee to leave it 0-6 to 0-3 at half-time.

On the resumption, Gowna almost got in for a goal but Ramor managed to clear their lines; seconds later, Cathal and Killian Maguire combined to create a chance which the excellent Mark Magee palmed to the net to leave six between the sides.

A Tiarnan Madden free, after a foul on Conor Brady, cut the gap but Ramor were by now humming, running good lines in support and creating lots of chances.

Mattie Magee pointed off the left and Anthony Monaghan sent over another. The game belatedly began to come to life as McConnon recorded a very good point after beating a defender and Conor Madden scored on the turn.

Ramor goalkeeper Liam Brady was getting plenty of joy from going long and from one such booming restart, Enda Maguire made it 1-9 to 0-6. Cathal Maguire added another and then Jack Brady sold a dummy and pointed exquisitely off the outside of the boot as Ramor stretched their advantage.

Gowna lost Cormac Brady to a straight red card at this stage and gaps were appearing in their defence. Cian Madden kicked a free but James Bradley and Monaghan, in space, again registered to leave nine between the sides.

In the final quarter, Gowna, who finished with 10 wides, hunted for goals but Ramor were resolute. A Conor Casey free, drilled over as Ramor lined the goals, and a late point from play were all the Gowna men could muster.

This win bolsters Ramor, who must be taken very seriously now as championship contenders. They have negotiated the group stage with little fuss despite an injury list which has been almost comical at times and their leading men are in fine form.

Gowna idled at times against Castlerahan and Lacken in particular and while they won pulling up against Lavey, they were poor here in their first outing against one of the top sides.

However, the champions were able to leave their group form behind them last year in the latter stages, albeit they rode their luck. They have Killygarry next and a win there would see them into the last four and a dangerous proposition for anyone.

Ramor United: Liam Brady, Lorcan Lynch, Adam O’Connell, Matthew Magee (0-1), Shane Keenan (0-1), Brían O’Connell, Mark Magee (1-0), Enda Maguire (0-1), Nathan Levy-Valensi, Eoin Somerville (0-1), James Bradley (0-2, 1f), Cathal Maguire (0-2), Jack Brady (0-2), Killian Maguire (0-1), Anthony Monaghan (0-2)

Subs: Ben Smith for A O’Connell (22), Killian Brady for B Smith (44), Liam Magure for E Somerville (temp, 47), Martin Comey for Matthew Magee (50), Tomás Lynch for B O’Connell (52), Aaron Tynan for K Maguire (53)

Gowna: Ronan Bannon, Cormac Brady, Ryan McGahern, James Madden, Fionan Brady, Conor Brady, Tiarnan Madden (0-1f), Ryan Brady, Ryan Donohoe (0-1), Robbie Fitzpatrick, DJ Madden, Cian Madden (0-3 2f), Darragh McConnon (0-1), Seanie Hartin, Oisin Pierson

Subs: Conor Madden (0-1) for S Hartin (22), Conor Casey (0-1f) for R Fitzpatrick (ht), Andrew Dewart for F Brady (ht), Mark McKeever for R Brady (55), Daire Madden for DJ Madden (55)

Ref: James Clarke