Ramor 2-12 
Kingscourt 2-11

Ramor United carved out a nailbiting win over Kingscourt Stars in a hard-fought SFC group clash at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday night.

Ramor were the better side in the first half, running hard at the Stars defence, as they set out to lay down a marker against a side who pushed them all the way in the county quarter-final last season.

After quickfire start, they were 0-3 to 0-0 in front within five minutes with points from county man Jack Brady, Stephen Monaghan and an excellent Ado Cole effort.

Barry Reilly, operating close to goal, fired over Kingscourt's first score on six minutes and while Ramor pulled four clear, Kingscourt were thrown a lifeline when Joe Dillon rose highest to fist to the net.

Leitrim native Christy McGowan pulled back another for the Stars but the champions took control again in the run-in to half-time, frees from brothers James and Conor Bradley sandwiching a right-footed effort from Cole - whose battle with Padraig Faulkner was a highlight - as the Virginia lads went in at half-time leading by 0-9 to 1-2.

Ramor extended their lead to seven points on the restart with a goal from Cole, who reacted quickest after a shot from James Brady dropped in the danger area.

With Padraig Faulkner now operating around the middle, though, Kingscourt began to make inroads and a Joe Dillon point via the upright and two well-taken Barry Reilly points cut the gap.

And when Philip Smith curled in from a tight angle, Dillon bagged another goal and Philip Tinnelly sent over a great score from long range, the Stars were in the lead for the first time.

But Ramor rallied again, Jack Brady pointing after a James McEnroe pass. Points from Keith McCabe and Reilly, either side of a James Brady score, kept the Stars in front but the crucial score arrived when Cole bundled home his second goal after a soccer-style dribble from Anton Reilly and a clever flick from James Brady.

In the closing stages, Ramor flooded their defence and Kingscourt found it hard to break through, veteran Philip Smith sending over to make it a one-point game.

Both sides had chances in the dying seconds but Ramor held on for an important victory.

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