Having dropped down from Division 1 to Division 2 for the 2006 season, the main focus at Ramor was a quick return to the top flight at the first attempt. This objective came tantalising close when they accumulated twenty points, just one point short of Lacken and Drumlane who both saw themselves elevated back to the status of top flight football for 2007. This shortfall came as a bitter disappointment to those at the club who felt that the team was talented enough to make it at the first go. The vargaries of football in Division 2 proved just that when they drew two games which cost them automatic promotion. The aim for the coming season will be no less ambitious and having traversed the Division 2 highway last year, they will have sufficient knowledge of the calibre of teams that they must overcome to ensure their quick return to Division 1. When speaking of the club's performance during 2006 Treasurer Joe Hopkins sounded upbeat: "Naturally we were disappointed that we were pipped at the final stages of the Division 2 league and lost out on promotion. While the realisation of knowing that you are not going to be promoted created a downbeat mood, it was soon tempered with the knowledge that we have some of the best young players in the county at our disposal. The club have re-appointed Gary Farrelly as team manager for 2007. Gary has a proven track record with many of the present crop of players having worked with them through the juvenile ranks. This coming season he will be assisted by selector, Tommy Connolly, and by former Cavan inter-county player and Mullahoran stalwart, Damien O'Reilly. Damien will act as selector and will help out with the coaching and training of the team. It is hoped that this combination should be able to create the platform necessary to put us in place for promotion. The club are making every effort to facilitate the right set of circumstances to gain promotion and it is now up to the players to make the next step and deliver on their ability. Commitment and dedication will be needed to make it through the choppy waters of Division 2 where no team can be discounted. It will not be an easy task as we learned last year. The club will look to players of the calibre of Gareth Daly, Barry Fitzsimons, Paddy McNamee, Keith Soden, Peter and Stephen Monaghan, Anton Reilly, Daire Sheridan, Philip Fitzsomons and Stephen Connolly to put Ramor back into top flight football. The loss of three of Ramor's most promising players, Ronan Fitzsimons, Shane Cole and Niall McHugo, who are taking a year out to travel to Australia, is a severe blow to the side but the structure at the club is in a healthy situation and we have a good second team which is usually there or thereabouts at the end of every season. "Under the management of Francie Maguire and his selectors, Gene Clancy and former Cavan inter-county player, Sean Cole, many of the younger players make their way into the senior team through their guidance. The importance of a second team is vital as it helps younger players progress and ensures that all the panel are playing football. With the loss of three of squad some of these younger plays will be expected to step up and fill the void," stated Joe. Underage football The parish of Lurgan has always had a strong association with underage football in Cavan and over many years has produced some of the best juvenile teams in the Breffni County. 2006 was certainly true to form as Lurgan minors and U-21s produced some of the best football seen in Cavan during that period. When speaking of those two teams in particular, Joe, who is now on his fourth year as treasurer with Ramor, feels that the parish teams were quite unlucky on both days. "The minor final was without a doubt one of the best games witnessed in Cavan last season. The game which was played as a curtain-raiser to the senior county final produced top class encounter from two sides willing to play to the true spirit of GAA. The quality of football was not diminished inspite of the atrocious downpours that battered the players and spectators alike. One of the great memories of this final will be the never say die attitude of the Lurgan players who made this contest go all way down to the wire. "Many of that team will now be chasing for their places on the present Ramor squad. With this influx of young talent coming on stream it will make the team management's job that bit easier. While the minor final went down to the last kick of the ball in an nerve tingling encounter, the tension in the final minutes of the Division 1 U-21 semi-final against Castlerahan was heart-stopping. This was a game for the most part that Lurgan were on top. Playing a brand of direct football, they failed to put away a strong and talented Castlerahan side and with the game glowing in its dying embers, Lurgan had a two point advantage. A rather fortuitous goal, practically the last kick of the game, gave Castlerahan the edge they needed. A final point by the Ballyjamesduff based side, gave them a two point victory in what many believed was a get out of jail card for them. Credit to them, they went to beat Parnells in the final. A little lack of experience probably cost us dearly on the day but many of the side are underage again next year so we should be capable of making a serious attempt on the U-21 championship." Positive Mood The mood of football in the area is upbeat according to Joe with Virginia College having captured the All Ireland Vocational Schools U-18 A senior football championship crown when they defeated Cork college, St. Brogan's of Bandon by 0-10 to 1-5. The exposure that Virginia College's win gave to those players in the catchment area can only be a good thing for football in general in Cavan. Development When talking about development at the club PRO Jimmy Fitzsimons is quick to point out that the great achievements past and present are down to the hard-working members of the development committee who over many years have given of their time and expertise freely. "Ramor was formed back in 1971 with the amalgamation of Virginia Blues, Lurgan and Maghera MacFinns. From its early beginnings Ramor proved to be a force in Cavan football winning their first senior championship in 1974. They went on to win it again in 1982 and 1992. Throughout that period the club produced many talented footballers, some of whom went on to grace the inter-county arena with Cavan. Names like McNamee, McDonald, Cole, Lynch and O'Connell were feared when they ran out in the Ramor jersey and today, the sons of some of those former greats constitute the backbone of the present team. From the outset the club always had a progressive outlook and have over the years provided two excellent playing pitches at Ramor Park. The ongoing work at the grounds is set to take another step into the future with the proposed development of two new dressing rooms and the provision of an astra turf playing surface. This proposed development is now at the tendering stage and it is hoped to begin construction in the near future. "With the growth in ladies football and the proposed re-formation of the camogie club it will be essential. With a strong ladies section at the club, the need for extra facilities is paramount. The acquisition of an astra pitch will be a tremendous benefit for Ramor as it is a source of generating income and can also act as a training area during the winter months. Eugene Dwyer and Virginia Transport, Ramor Trans, have committed themselves to a three year deal which is of great benefit to Ramor. We also have many other sponsors who have given generously and without whose help it would be difficult to run the club. While we have a source of generous sponsors contributing to the club, the development committee have not rested on their laurels and have successfully run a car draw during 2006. This was a mammoth effort that raised over 120,000 euro, " stated Jimmy. Ladies football A very helpful and genial gentleman, Owen Hanratty, who is chairman of the Lurgan ladies football club felt that the 2006 was one of mixed success. "We lost out at the semi-final stage of the senior championship to Knockbride and had to accept another defeat this time by the same opposition in the Division 1 league final. In the league final, we were well in contention at half-time but in fairness to Knockbride they raised the tempo in the second half and shut us out. While we were disappointed at losing we can take comfort in the effort put in by the team on the day. We played some great football and battled right up to the final whistle. It is a great credit to the team and senior team manager, Joe Lynch to have reached the final stages of both league and championship and no doubt we will in the future gain our due reward in these competitions," stated Owen. The Lurgan team that lost out in the Division 1 league final was: C. Foley, E. McDermott, D. Brady, L. Hanratty, E. Gilsenan, A. Lynch, E. Gaffney, C. Carpenter, F. Murphy, C. Brady, M. Cole, C. Clowes, C. Farrell, C. Reilly, P. McDermott. Subs: Venessa Bardy, Julie Cahill. 9-a-side winners A power-packed display from Lurgan earned them their third Division 1 nine-a-side title in-a-row when they overcame Mullahoran 4-13 to 1-12. This was a repeat of the 2005 final and Lurgan left no-one in any doubt as to the outcome of this game when they powered their way to 1-4 to 0-0 lead just after eight minutes. This victory can be attributed to a great team performance with Claire Foley in goals in particularly fine form. Ciara Farrelly, Philly McDermott and Claragh O'Reilly also stood out. Lurgan panel: C. Foley, E. McDermott, L. Hanratty, E. Gaffney, C. Carpenter, F. Murray, P. McDermott, C. O'Reilly, C. Farrell, E. Gilsenan, G. O'Shaughnessy, N. O'Dwyer, D. Brady, E. Clowes, A. Lynch, M. Cole, V. Brady, D. O'Reilly. U-16s scoop title Lurgan's U-16 side made no mistake in this replay of the U-16 B football championship final when they overcame Gowna by 2-11 to 1-8. A determined second half performance saw Lurgan cancel out a six point deficit to emerge worthy winners. So determined was Lurgan's second-half display that Gowna were unable to register a score throughout this second period of the game while the winners registered a total of 2-6. Lurgan U-16s: E. Bough, A. Shields, C. Foley, E. McCabe, E. McConn, K. Flynn, S. Bough, D. O'Reilly, M. O'Connell, E. Ormiston, D. Powell, E. Byrne, N. Daly. Sub: Fiona Skelly. According to the ladies chairman: "Great credit is due to the all the teams that participated throughout the year and to their mentors. At senior level Joe Lynch and Aodhagan Cahill deserve great credit for their endeavours while Tony Sheils, Sinead O'Reilly and Ann McEnroe who managed the U-16s also did tremendous work. We are fortunate to have some of the senior players, Phillie McDermott, Claire Carpenter, Claire Foley and Laura Hanratty coaching the underage. Indeed it is ironic that Claire Foley who has played in goals for the senior ladies for the past three years is U-16," stated Owen. The club also sport an active underage programme with teams competing at U-12 and U-14. The U-12 side is looked after by Philly McDermott, Laura Hanratty, Clare McDermott and Clare Foley while the U-14s are coached by Karen Brady and David Daly. Lurgan are now recognised as the biggest ladies football club in Cavan. Tweet

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