Ramor win opening round
February 17, 2013
Ramor's James Bradley
The new management regime of Farrelly, Farrelly & Cole will undoubtedly be pleased with their teams performance in Ramor Park on Sunday afternoon last when the home side won their opening league match against a typically determined Denn side. Despite winning by an eight point margin the Ramor men had to work hard for the win and left it late in the hour to secure the points.
Within thirty seconds of the whistle Ramor were first on the score sheet when full forward Adrian Cole pointed after a well-orchestrated attack by midfielder James McEnore and half forward Simon Cadden. This was followed almost immediately with a fine score from Kevin Mulvaney, again set up by McEnore setting an early marker in the middle of the pitch, where he was to assume the role of dominant playmaker.
James Bradley put the home side three up in the third minute with a fine score from a placed ball against a tricky breeze. Shortly after, some excellent inter play between Cadden and county man Jack Brady found corner back Barry Fitzimons in possession who duly split the posts with a giant kick from distance. There was no doubt who was in the ascendancy when the ever graceful Ado Cole danced around his marker to fist his second and put the Virginia men five in front less than a minute later.
Denn replied with a converted free courtesy of Dean Hyland at the other end to get the visitors off the mark. However it was Ramor who continued to dictate around the field and a well won ball (again from McEnore) in the 14th found danger man Jack Brady slicing through the Denn defence making no mistake with a torpedo to the net.
Ramor were in cruise control at this stage and Bradley added to their lead with another converted effort in the 16th and a wonderful kick from distance courtesy of McEnroes boot shortly after. 1-7 to 1 point, it just looked too easy. Denn, to their credit and with consideration for their battling reputation refused to bow and county star Mossy Corr spearheaded the resistance with a fine point on the right.
This was followed with scores from Colin Kiernan and Fergal Farrelly keeping the visitors in contention. James McEnore notched over his second of the afternoon in the 24th, but it was Denn who battled harder in the closing stages of the half taking advantage of some lazy Ramor tackling to convert two frees taken by Dean Hyland and again by Kiernan respectively.
The Virginia men had a let off just before the whistle when a high hopping ball eluded the Ramor defence and found Hyland in goal scoring position, but Damien Barkey and company remained composed, regrouped and scuppered the resulting attack. Half Time Ramor 1-8 Denn 0-6.
Again, it was Ado Cole to resume the scoring for the home side pointing in the first minute after some excellent tackling and a clever pass from Jack Brady. Denn continued to attack and were unlucky not to get a goal when a Dean Hyland shot narrowly went wide. In spite of this, Denn were right back in the game shortly after when Colin Kiernan converted a penalty in the 7th leaving just three between the teams and ample time left on the clock.
The home support was justifiably anxious at this stage, but the Ramor men held their nerve. Jack Brady added to his tally in the 13th after Ado Cole returned the favour, despite a strong sun his eyes collected a high ball and layed it off deftly to the county man on the wing. The five point cushion was re-established moments later when Kieth Soden converted a free after a foul on a persistently rampant McEnroe.
Both teams continued to battle hard, but no scores were forthcoming, thanks in the main to Ramors backline with Barkey, Shane Cole and Adam O'Connell providing a sound defensive unit in the face of mounting Denn pressure.
Mossy Corr broke the funk with a point in the 21st which brought the difference back to four and served also to remind the Virginia men that the match was far from won. However it was Ramor who started to dominate again and could well have been out of sight had a well taken James Bradley penalty (23rd) not hit the butt of the post and cleared from the rebound.
Ramor kicked five wides in a row in the closing minutes but these were atoned for when a high ball from Anton O'Reilly was flicked to waiting substitute Stefan Connelly who with admirable aplomb slotted it neatly into the net. This was followed by another Jack Brady point deep in injury time putting the result far beyond doubt. Full Time Ramor 2-12 Denn 1-7.
Referee; Joe McQuillan
Teams;
Ramor; Aaron Farrelly, Emmet Daly, Damien Barkey, Barry Fitzimons (0-1), Jack Brady (1-2), Shane Cole, Adam O'Connell, Anton O'Reilly, James McEnroe (0-2), Gary MacNamee, Kieth Soden (01-f), Simon Cadden, James Bradley (0-2f), Adrian Cole (0-3), Kevin Mulvaney (0-1)
Subs Used; Stefan Connelly (1-0), Colum Murphy, Mossy Farrelly.
Denn; Brian Boylan, Adrian Cahill, Ciaran McGovern, Owney McPhilips, Steven McPartland, Chris Cahill, Martin Cahill, Mossy Corr (0-2), Pauric McGovern, Fergal Farrelly (0-1), Thomas Farrelly, Noel Crowe, Dean Hyland (0-2f), Qubert Smith, Colin Kiernan (1p-2f)
Subs Used; Martin McGovern ,Alan Tierney, Ben Conaty, Cian McCann. Tweet
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