Ramor United 1-11
Mullahoran 0-11

by Shane Corrigan
at Kingspan Breffni Park

Ramor United upset champions Mullahoran this evening at Kingspan Breffni Park to book their place in Round 2A of the senior football championship against Gowna.

In the most anticipated game of the championship thus far, it was James McEnroe's 23rd minute goal that made all the difference for the Virginia men, whom many fancied coming into this contest, as Mullahoran failed to hit the heights which saw them capture the Oliver Plunkett Cup last season.

In truth, it was a game which Ramor never looked like losing once Jack Brady registered their first three scores, despite Mullahoran pulling level by the 19th minute, as McEnroe's brilliantly taken goal had them well on their way and in the second-half they matched the holders' work rate to ensure the gap stayed at three, despite the best efforts of Enda O'Reilly, who contributed 0-8 over the hour.

Along with Brady, James Bradley and Kevin Mulvanny were the key men up front for the winners, while their full-back line reduced Mullahoran's three scorers - O'Reilly, Philip Brady and Paul Brady - to just three points from play. The Dreadnoughts now face Redhills, whom forced Castlerahan to extra-time on Friday night, in Round 2B of the draw.

Ramor were off the mark within three minutes of the throw-in thanks to a Jack Brady free and avoided disaster soon after when Enda O'Reilly's '45' was punched on to the crossbar and quickly cleared from danger.

In the next attack, Tomas Nannery would have another goal chance for Mullahoran, after being slipped through by Philip Brady, but his low shot drifted just past Aaron Farrelly's left post.

Instead it was two more scores from Brady down the other end that ushered Garry Farrelly's team into a three-point lead with 14 minutes on the clock, before a Philip Brady free opened Mullahoran's account for the evening. Two frees from Enda O'Reilly soon followed to level the sides until a well-worked move between Simon Cadden and Bradley saw the latter send over and put Ramor's noses back in front.

Despite some fine fielding from Paul Brady in all different areas of the field, Mullahoran were struggling to work it in and a minute after Jack Brady's fourth point they'd be rocked by a sublime goal from their opponents. After having his route blocked by Mullahoran defenders, Brady offloaded to full-forward Kevin Mulvanny, who turned sharply to find James McEnroe at full tilt and the midfielder buried the ball past Dominic Crudden.

Mulvanny added to the assist by notching a point a minute later, stretching Ramor's advantage to six, but Mullahoran went on to own the closing minutes of the half, which saw Enda O'Reilly stroking over three points (2 frees) to reduce their arrears to three (1-6 to 0-6) by half-time.

Philip Brady looked to set the tone for the Dreadnoughts in early stages of the resumption with a point after dummying past his marker, but Ramor were equally resolute in their approach as a brilliant score from Jack Brady was backed up by Mulvanny to extend their advantage.

O'Reilly and Brady traded frees to keep the difference at four and as the game entered the final quarter it was hard to predict that Ramor would have to gear themselves up for an onslaught from the champions.

It was the Meath border men that came close to all but ending the game as a contest though when Mulvanny was threaded through and had his effort of a goal heroically blocked by Killian Brady on the line and cleared away. They'd instead have to settle for a Bradley point before their opponents were dealt a blow when the aforementioned Brady received a second yellow card for an incident which occurred off the ball - spotted by one of Noel Mooney's linesmen.

It left Mullahoran with an uphill battle in the closing minutes, and although O'Reilly swung over two more frees for them; they simply couldn't find the goal they needed in injury-time and Bradley's third point of the evening rounded off the impressive victory for Ramor.

Ramor United: Aaron Farrelly; Barry Fitzsimons, Stefan Connolly, Adam O'Connell; Daire Sheridan, Shane Cole, Damien Barkey; Anton O'Reilly, James McEnroe (1-0); James Bradley (0-3), Keith Soden, Simon Cadden; Paul Quealy, Kevin Mulvanny (0-2), Jack Brady (0-6, 3f). Subs: Emmet Daly for Soden (58mins), Michael O'Reilly for Queally (58).

Mullahoran: Dominic Crudden; Seanie Smith, Killian Brady, James Reilly; Paul Brady (0-1), Paddy Brady, Dermot Sheridan; Christy Shiels, Peter Paul Galligan; Eddie Dalton, Enda O'Reilly (0-8, 7f), Tomas Nannery; Philip Brady (0-2, 1f), Raymond Lynch, Daniel O'Reilly. Subs: Fergal Brady for R Lynch (44mins), Darren O'Reilly for J Reilly (44), Kevin Fitzsimons for C Shiels (56).

Ref: Noel Mooney (Cavan Gaels) Tweet

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