Ramor book semi spot with win over Mullahoran

SFC quarter-final

Ramor United 1-11

Mullahoran 0-11

Ramor United are back in the last four of the championship after seeing off Mullahoran in a hard-fought encounter that turned on a blistering five-minute spell midway through the second half.

Ramor dominated the opening quarter against a Mullahoran side who showed the tell-tale signs of flatness and perhaps nerves. Handling errors and hesitancy in defence from Mullahoran allowed the Virginia men to ease into a five-point lead by the 15th minute.

After a cagey opening five minutes, Enda Maguire broke the deadlock with a fine curled effort from the right. James Bradley then picked out Karl Farrelly, who slotted over, before Sean McEvoy converted a free as he and Colm O’Reilly engaged in an absorbing battle. At the other end, Brían O’Connell picked up his county teammate Cormac O’Reilly and their duel was equally intense.

Matthew Smith punished a loose pass to extend the lead to four and after the impressive Nathan Levy-Valensi soared for a superb fetch, McEvoy knocked over another free to leave it 0-5 to 0-0.

Mullahoran, who racked up five wides in the first 20 minutes, got off the mark when Cormac O’Reilly tapped over a free, moved forward after Killian Brady had been fouled. With Ramor now beginning to falter in front of goal, three successive wides invited Mullahoran into the contest.

Luke Maguire’s pace saw him draw another free which Enda O’Reilly converted. The same player then landed a fine score from play and when Cormac O’Reilly fisted over, the gap was down to one. At half-time, it was 0-5 to 0-4 and all to play for.

The second half was played in heavy rain and it was Mullahoran who struck first, Conor Sharpe’s effort dropping just over after Liam Brady tried to gather it. Enda O’Reilly uncharacteristically missed two frees but Darren Sheils curled over a beauty from play and suddenly the Dreadnoughts were in front for the first time, carrying all the momentum.

Ramor, last year’s beaten finalists, badly needed a response and they produced it in style. In the space of five minutes, they reeled off four points from as many shots.

Good work from Eoin Somerville and Matthew Smith created a chance for sub Jensen Tynan, who fisted over. McEvoy then blasted a point off his left on 39 minutes. Enda Maguire combined with Jack Brady for his second score before Bradley split the posts from the edge of the D. In a flash, Ramor were 0-9 to 0-6 ahead with 12 minutes of the half gone.

Mullahoran came back with a Cormac O’Reilly point after clever work from Sharpe, but Ramor’s reply this time was devastating. Adam O’Connell played a one-two with McEvoy and burst through; although Evan Byrne saved his shot, Matthew Smith was on hand at the back post to fire home the rebound. That made it 1-9 to 0-7 and left Mullahoran with a mountain to climb.

Aidan McCabe’s men looked to 18-year-old sub Ultan O’Reilly for inspiration and he delivered in style, pointing with his very first touch and soon after rifling over a brilliant two-pointer. Liam Brady had earlier landed a superb 46-metre free, which would prove Ramor’s last score of the night, but minor O’Reilly’s third point cut the deficit to three as the closing stages grew tense.

The Dreadnoughts supporters sensed an unlikely comeback, but Ramor, with substitute Ben O’Hara making an impact around the middle, managed possession well in the final minutes. They did miss chances to put it to bed but held firm to book their place in the semi-finals.

Ramor now join Crosserlough and Gowna in the last four, with Ballyhaise and Kingscourt Stars meeting tonight (Wednesday, 8.15pm, Kingspan Breffni) to decide the final spot.

See next week's print edition for full coverage.