Division 1 Championship 2008
Cuchulainns 1-12. Ramor 1-9.
It was the most eagerly anticipated clash of the weekend’s fixtures, as Division 1 leaders Cuchulainns faced Neighbours Ramor Utd. in the opening round of the Senior Championship. Played in brilliant sunshine, before a large crowd, the game served up lots of entertainment. Ramor opened the stronger of the two racing into a five point lead, before Cuchulainns took over after the 12th minute to notch up their own scores to be one goal ahead at the half time whistle. The second half was similar with Ramor going two points ahead in the 12th minute, but once more Cuchulainns took charge and emerged eventual winners.
Ramor Utd. opened the first half scoring with a point from Adrian Cole, moments later a good ball in from James Mc Enroe enabled Paddy Mc Namee to point. Cuchulainns replied with a Paul Taite point from play. Adrian Cole was on target almost immediately with a fine point for Ramor. It was all Ramor at this stage of the game with the forwards getting plenty of ball supplied to them, and Paddy Mc Namee was on song with three unanswered points to put Ramor ahead by five points. These were to be Ramor’s last scores of the half, as Cuchulainns took over and dominated the remainder of the half. In the 16th minute Thomas Reilly converted a free for Cuchulainns, and the same player was on hand to convert another free after a foul on Conor Smith in the 22nd minute. Cuchulainns were dominating midfield, being first to the breaking ball, and feeding the forwards inside.Conor Smith scored a fine solo effort, having rounded Gareth Daly, narrowing the gap between the sides to three points. Paul Taite delivered a long ball into Killian Lynch, and the impressive corner forward slotted over the bar. With the minimum between the sides, Conor Daly picked up a breaking ball from mid-field and ran unchallenged to score the levelling point. In first half injury time, Conor Smith who was a constant thorn in Ramor’s side, rounded two Ramor backs, and very cleverly found Paul Taite with a sublime pass in front of goal, and the latter made no mistake rattling the net, allowing Cuchulainns a three point lead going into the break.
Ramor made a substitution at the start of the second half with Stefan Connolly going in to mark Conor Smith. Stephen Monaghan opened Ramor’s account of the half with a well taken free from the 45m line. Conor Daly replied for Cuchulainns with a point from play. Ronan Keating for Ramor and Donnacha Dunne for Cuchulainns were brought into the game for Paul Quealy and Terry Farrelly, the latter on a tick and a yellow card.
Ronan Keating made an immediate impact scoring a fine point from play in the 9th minute. Ramor’s Stephen Monaghan left the minimum between the sides after playing a fine one-two with his brother Peter. At this stage of the game any attempts by Cuchulainns to supply Conor Smith were ably dealt with by Stefan Connolly. Ramor’s next score was as a result of an excellent interception by Connolly who fed Raymond Farrelly, who in turn passed to Stephen Monaghan who dropped a high ball into Ronan Keating. Keating quickly fed the inrushing James Mc Enroe who laid off to Paddy Mc Namee who blasted the ball to the bottom corner of the Cuchulainns net.Ramor now had a two point advantage, but they failed to capitalise on this, and this goal was their last score of the game.
Cuchulainns had an excellent chance of a goal minutes later when Thomas Reilly was one on one with the goalkeeper, but blasted the ball over the bar instead. The same player levelled things up in the 17th minute with a point from a free after a foul on Conor Daly. Cuchulainns were completely dominating now, and Ramor were allowing themselves to give away possession, Cuchulainns seemed to have greater hunger, intercepting passes and running off the ball, starving the Ramor forwards of any chance of a score. Thomas Reilly received the ball at the 45m line, brushed past the Ramor defence and scored a fine point in the 22nd minute. Ramor suffered a blow as Paddy Mc Namee had to leave the play with an injury, hav ing scored 1-4. He was replaced by Donal Farrelly. Seamus Clarke caught the ball from the kick out in the 26th minute, went on a run unchallenged, and scored a fine point to put Cuchulainns two ahead with only minutes remaining. In the 28th minute, Thomas Reilly converted a free to leave three between the sides. Ramor made a number of fruitless attempts at attack in the hope of a goal, but Referee Micky D Brady blew the final whistle to scenes of jubilation in the Cuchulainns camp. All in all Cuchulainns greater hunger and desire was to prove the difference between the sides and Ramor can have no complaints as they completely lost the mid-field battle and were ill equipped in stopping the Cuchulainns forwards.
Best for Cuchulainns were Colm Anderson in goals who made a fine save in the first half, John Flanagan was outstanding throughout, Diarmuid Fox did a good job on Ado Cole, Terry Farrelly and Paul Taite dominated mid-field, in the forward line Conor Daly, Seamus Clarke, Killian Lynch, Thomas Reilly and Conor Smith, along with Donnacha Dunne when introduced were always dangerous.
For Ramor Aoghan Cahill couldn’t be faulted in goals, Raymond Farrelly was outstanding along with Stefan Connolly when introduced. Paddy Mc Namee, Adrian Cole and sub Ronan Keating were the main threats in attack.
Cuchulainns; Colm Anderson, John Flanagan, Barry Smith, Martin Lynch, Adrian Taite, Eugene Keating, Diarmuid Fox, Terry Farrelly, Paul Taite(1-1), Conor Daly(0-2), Seamus Clarke(0-1), Paul Tully, Killian Lynch(0-1), Thomas Reilly(0-6), Conor Smith(0-1). Subs used; Donnacha Dunne.
Ramor; Aoghan Cahill, Ray Cole, Gareth Daly, Raymond Farrelly, Barry Fitzsimons, Shane Gaffney, Daire Sheridan , Anton O’Reilly, Stephen Monaghan(0-2), Paul Quealy, James Mc Enroe, Philip Fitzsimons, Peter Monaghan, Paddy Mc Namee(1-4), Adrian Cole(0-2). Subs used; Stefan Connolly, Ronan Keating(0-1), Paddy Brennan, Donal Farrelly.
