Monaghan Brothers Accurate Free Taking Ensure Ramor Victory

On a cold and windswept Ramor Park, Ramor United overcame their opponents Swanlinbar in an evenly fought contest in the second round of the ACFL Division 2, their first game against Knockbride was postponed due to weather conditions.
It was Swanlinbar who opened the scoring with a point from a free after two minutes by corner forward and free taker Robbie Prior. Ramors Stephen Monaghan had a point from a free one minute later to level the score. In the fifth minute this time from the left boot of Peter Monaghan a forty metre free put Ramor ahead. Robbie Prior levelled again in the eight minute. Another accurate free again from Stephen Monaghan put Ramor ahead three points to two. The first point from play came from Mikie Keating after twenty minutes and yet another free from Peter Monaghan near the end of the first half left Ramor with five points and then just before the whistle Padraig Layden from play got Swanlinbars third and last point of the half. Half time score Ramor 0-5 Swanlinbar 0-3.

The second half started with a brilliant reflex save from Ramor goalkeeper Alan Farrelly to deny Swanlinbar of the best goal chance of the game. The Monaghan Brothers accurate free taking continued, this time it was Stephens turn to raise the white flag for Ramor. Robbie Prior was equally accurate for Swanlinbar at the other end and with another point from play by Paul Prior after seven minutes the score read Ramor 0-6 Swanlinbar 0-5 with an exciting game of football unfolding to the delight of the large crowd present.

Ramor now began to take control at the centre of the field with Peter Monaghan and Shane Gaffney delivering fast and plentiful supply to the Ramor forwards which led to two points from Ronan Keating, two from Donal Farrelly and two long range points from Peter Monaghan. Swanlinbar fought back with two points from Mark Cunningham and one from Paul Brennan to raise their hopes. Both defences played some good sporting football with their use of possession worked out to a fine art.

Ramor brought in some fresh legs - Aoghan Cahill for Stephen Monaghan and Stephan Connolly for Emmett Daly. There was pressure from both sides to win this game and Swanlinbar were threatening now in earnest, unfortunately a second yellow card from referee Michael Lee saw Swanlinbars No.8 John Cunningham leaving his side down to fourteen men. Peter Monaghan converted another two frees. Swanlinbar scored three unanswered points from the boot of Robbie Prior. That finished the scoring and left Ramor the fitter team winning 0-14 to 0-11.

Ramor Team :- Alan Farrelly Garret Daly Philip Kermath Philip Fitzsimons Joseph Hopkins Emett Daly Daragh Sheridan Peter Monaghan 0-6 Shane Gaffney Brian Brady Shane O'Reilly Donal Farrelly 0-2 Mikie Keating 0-1 Ronan Keating 0-2 Stephen Monaghan 0-3
Subs used:- Aoghan Cahill for Stephen Monaghan Stephan Connolly for Emett Daly

Swanlinbar Team :- Sean Prior Liam Prior Seamus Corrigan Gavin Layden
Paul Prior 0-1 Michael Curran Damien Layden John Cunningham Paul Brennan 0-1 Rory McBarron Padraig Layden 0-1 Paul Mc Govern Mark Cunningham 0-2 Kevin Brennan Robbie Prior 0-6

Match report by Jimmy Fitzsimons- Ramor PRO