MFC final: Five-star Ramor clinch double

October 06, 2013

Ramor Utd's Sean Brady gets in pass against Templeport in the Cavan MFC final at Breffni Park
Ramor United 5-11
Templeport 2-10

Goal-specialists Ramor United completed a league and championship double this afternoon when they overcame Templeport in the Minor A Championship final at Kingspan Breffni Park.

Conor Bradley and Jack Doyle were in red-hot form for the winners, combining for 3-9 over the hour, to sink Templeport's brave challenge and collect their second piece of silverware to cap off a unforgettable season for Leo McEnroe's players.

It was Templeport that opened the scoring in this decider with a free from Liam Galligan, which the wing forward converted himself, but Ramor United landed their first goal soon after to take control of the contest.

After a scoring run through Templeport's centre, Conor Bradley was pulled back in the square and referee Margaret Farrelly signalled horizontal arms for a penalty. Cathal Maguire expertly dispatched his kick to hand Ramor their first lead after four minutes but the young Bawnboy men were level in as many minutes thanks to the deadly accuracy of Ben Kiernan. The centre-forward backed up a well-executed free with a fine long range point and at that stage things were looking positive for the westerners.

Ramor, however, were finding it easier to punch holes in their opponents' defence and netted their second goal in the 11th minute when a quick free put Bradley through one-on-one with Darren Donohoe and he palmed the ball over the Templeport goalkeeper.

Only a brave interception from Patrick McGoldrick would deny the town side a third goal, as the threatened to run riot, and they'd instead have to settle for points from Jack Doyle and Bradley which outweighed a single from Galligan. Templeport's number 10 would pick up injury on route towards goal in the 20th minute, but he continued nonetheless as his scoring prowess would be needed if Patrick Maguire's charges were to make a comeback.

Ramor finished out the half strong, with points from Doyle (2) and Bradley before Donohoe pulled off a fantastic save close to half-time, which left it at 2-5 to 0-5 for the interval.

Templeport would need to hit the ground running in the second-half, but instead endured the worst possible restart when Doyle's blocked effort fell perfectly for Bradley to fist in past Donohoe with his back to goal.

Kiernan hit back for the trailers with a splendid point ahead of a Niall Farrell free, which brought the difference back to seven, but all that good work would be wiped out in an instant when Ramor broke forward and lashed a high ball into Sean Brady, who scrambled the ball over the line for goal number four.

The game looked to be over as a contest but Templeport weren't willing to throw in the towel and owned the next 10 minutes to reduce their arrears to three points. The early signs were there when Dylan Raythrone raced through and blasted over in effort of a goal before centre-back Benjamin Kelly eventually got his side's first major in the 45th minute. Three minutes later Dylan Maguire had the ball in the Ramor net after a high ball in from Kelly caused havoc and eventually fell the midfielder to crash past Kealan O'Connell.

With a goal in it, the final 10 minutes would be a real test of Ramor's endurance and it shone through as they made less mistakes than their opponents in the closing stages, earning frees for Bradley, Sean O'Reilly and Doyle to convert.

Templeport did their best to grind out another goal but it was the league champions that got the seventh three minutes from time through Doyle, who sent an emphatic finish past Donohoe, to seal the title before going up to collect his deserved 'Man of the Match' award.

Ramor United: Kealan O'Connell; Joseph O'Connell, Mark Magee, Patrick Burdis; Micheal Smart, Patrick Gargan, Eoin Somerville; Brian O'Connell (0-1), Sean McDermott; Sean O'Reilly (0-1, 1f), Cathal Maguire, Laurence Caffrey; Jack Doyle (1-5, 2f), Sean Brady (1-0), Conor Bradley (2-4, 2f). Subs: Ryan Mannion for M Smart (35mins), James Brady for J O'Connell (45).

Templeport: Darren Donohoe; Brendan McGoldrick, Oran Duffy, Patrick McGoldrick; Michael Devine, Benjamin Kelly (1-0), Dylan Raythorne (0-1); Dylan Maguire (1-0), Niall Farrell (0-3, 3f); Liam Galligan (0-2, 1f), Ben Kiernan (0-4, 2f), Liam McAweeney; Killian Leonard, Eoin Doonan, Haydn Kellegher. Subs: Conor McAweeney for K Leonard (39mins).

Ref: Margaret Farrelly (Laragh United)

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