Division 1 Championship 2008

Ramor Utd;1-16, Gowna ;0-16.

It was an epic encounter in Lavey on Sunday evening last as Ramor Utd and Gowna squared up to each other in an attempt to stay in the Cavan Senior Championship. The huge crowd gathered were served a thrilling 80 minutes of football, as extra time was forced by Gowna with three Dermot Mc Cabe frees. Both sides finished normal time with 14 men and countless ticks and yellow cards, before playing 20 minutes of extra time that was not for the faint hearted!

Ramor got a dream start when Ado Cole gave a slick pass to Paddy Mc Namee who hit it low and hard into the Gowna net after 20 seconds of play.Damien Fitzpatrick responded a minute later with a point from play for Gowna. The same Ramor duo of Mc Namee and Cole were on song in the 3rd minute with a good pass from Cole to his cousin who pointed. Stephen Monaghan followed up with a fine point scored from the 45m line. It was all Ramor at this stage, with Dermot mc Cabe missing a good chance in the 8th minute, sending wide. Damien Fitzpatrick converted a free in the 10th minute to leave a goal between the sides. Dermot Mc Cabe converted a 45 and Ciaran Fitzpatrick scored a point from play, bringing Gowna more into the game. The Gowna midfielder missed a free in the 13th minute which would have levelled the sides. Ramor had a couple of wides before Stephen Monaghan converted a 45 in the 18th minute. Tensions were rising and referee Packie Smith issued several ticks and two yellow cards, with both sides battling hard. Ciaran Fitzpatrick notched up another point for Gowna after a good pass from Dermot Mc Cabe who was dominating the midfield area. In the 23rd minute, Ado Cole was fouled and Stephen Monaghan pointed effortlessly to leave two between the sides. Ramor’s Philip Fitzsimons after an accurate pass from Ado Cole fisted over the bar edging his team further ahead. Shane Briody responded for Gowna with a well taken point a minute later. A sideline ball from Anton O’Reilly found midfielder James Mc Enroe who pointed in the 29th minute, and two minutes later, with his left foot, Ado Cole scored a fine point to give Ramor a 4 point lead going into the break.

Second Half;

Neither side made any changes for the second half. Ado Cole opened the scoring with a point from play in the first minute. Then followed a spell of dominance for Gowna as they notched up three points from play, two from Ciaran Fitzpatrick and one from Mark Mc Keever. In the 6th minute Paddy Mc Namee was fouled and Stephen Monaghan converted. Barry Fitzsimons, after a great interception laid the ball off to Ronan Keating who pointed. Two minutes later Anton O’Reilly added another point to put Ramor four ahead. Despite picking up a lot of breaking ball, Gowna were unable to score and they recorded a number of wides before Dermot Mc Cabe converted a free in the 14th minute. Anton O’Reilly was on target for a point in the 18th minute after a good pass from Shane Gaffney. In the 20th minute Mark Mc Keever scored a good point from play. A brawl ensued then and a number of players from both sides contributed to the ugly scenes. Gerald Pierson, who wasn’t long on the field, and Stefan Connolly were dismissed by referee Packie Smith. Play resumed and Gowna were first to the scoreboard in the guise of a Mark Mc Keever point from play. Ramor now had a three point advantage with 5 minutes of normal time remaining. However, things changed dramatically as Dermot Mc Cabe was awarded three successive frees, two very doubtful, and he duly did the business. With seconds remaining Paddy Mc Namee made a run towards goals and shot for a point, but it went narrowly wide and with that extra time was on the cards. Full time score; Ramor 1-12, Gowna 0-15.

Extra Time ; First half;

Ramor introduced Damien Barkey at the start of extra time and he was set the task of marking Ciaran Fitzpatrick and Padraig Brady came onto the Gowna side. Daire Sheridan missed a point for Ramor before Sub Paul Quealy scored a fine point in the 3rd minute. Two more points from play for Ramor followed from Ado Cole (fisted) and Paddy Brennan. It was the 7th minute before Gowna registered what was to be their only score in extra time. A bad clearance from Aoghan Cahill found Mark Mc Keever who pointed, bringing Gowna’s total tally to 16 points. There were two points between the teams at half time of extra time.

Several yellow cards were issued in the second half, and both sides recorded a number of wides. In the 7th minute, there were heart stopping moments as Gowna launched an attack on the Ramor goals, and but for the heroic efforts of Ray Cole Damien Barkey and goalie Aoghan Cahill, the outcome could have been different. Ray Cole sustained a head injury and was replaced by Emmett Daly. A minute later, the ball was cleared and Ramor were now on the attack. Stephen Monaghan scored a magnificent point from play in the dying seconds of the game and gave Ramor the spoils on a score-line of 1-16 to 0-16.

Ramor; Aoghan Cahill, Stefan Connolly, Ray Cole, Gareth Daly, Raymond Farrelly, Shane Gaffney, Barry Fitzsimons, James Mc Enroe(0-1), Stephen Monaghan(0-5, 3 frees), Philip Fitzsimons(0-1), Anton O’Reilly(0-2), Ronan Keating(0-1), Paddy Brennan(0-1), Paddy Mc Namee(1-1), Adrian Cole(0-3). Subs Used; Paul Quealy(0-1), Daire Sheridan, Peter Monaghan, Emmett Daly, Damien Barkey.

Gowna;

Ronan Bannon, Bernard Sorohan, Emmett Madden, Joseph Mc Loughlin, Christopher Madden, Willie Stephens, Cathaldus Hartin, Fergal Hartin, Dermot Mc Cabe(0-5;, 4 frees), Shane Briody(0-1), Ciaran Fitzpatrick(0-4), Ciaran Brady Jnr, Damien Fitzpatrick(0-2), Mark Mc Keever(0-4), Raymond Keogh.

Subs used; Gearoid O’Reilly, Gerald Pierson, Colin Briody, Gavin Hartin, Padraig Brady.