Cavan A.C.F.L. Round 8; Ramor V Ballinagh.

Ramor entertained Ballinagh in Round 8 of the A.C.F.L. on Tuesday evening last in Ramor Park, Virginia. This was the first outing for both teams since the Championship, with Ramor having suffered a comprehensive defeat against Castlerahan, while Ballinagh secured an easy win over Crosserlough.

Played in near perfect conditions, the game ebbed and flowed with the sides being level 4 times in the first half until Paddy Mc Namee scored a vital goal in the 28th minute to give Ramor a 3 point advantage going into the break.

The game started off with a Niall Mc Dermott free in the third minute, and this was quickly followed by a point from David Finnegan, after good play from Declan Beard.
In the 10th minute Ramor opened their account in the guise of a Paddy Mc Namee point, followed a moment later by an Anton O'Reilly free. Paul Galligan's shot at target found the upright, and Colin Gumley was quick to react, slotting over the bar to put his side in front. Both sides exchanged wides before Paddy Mc Namee pointed from play following a good delivery in from Anton O'Reilly.

Ballinagh's Niall Mc Dermott linked up well with David Finnegan and the latter made no mistake pointing in the 18th minute. A foul on Christopher Sheils went unpunished as the resulting free trailed off wide. Ramor missed yet another free after the ball was adjudged to have been fouled. Two minutes later Declan Beard must have thought he had a certain goal, but his rasping shot was saved magnificently by Ramor keeper Aodghan Cahill, and a comeback by Ballinagh was thwarted. Ballinagh had some consolation as the ball rebounded out to David Finnegan who was fouled and Declan Beard converted the subsequent free. In the 25th minute,there was a great Ramor move involving Shane Gaffney and Paul Quealy, whose rapid hand pass set Shane Cole up for a fine point. A minute later Christopher Sheils laid off an accurate pass to Anton O'Reilly who made no mistake scoring a fine point. Paul Galligan added to Ballinagh's tally of wides before the crucial score of the game when the impressive Paul Quealy slipped the ball to Paddy Mc Namee 30 metres out and the latter's low hard shot rattled the back corner of the Ballinagh net. From the kick-out, Ballinagh reacted well when David Finnegan found Niall Mc Dermott in space and he secured a point for his side from a tight angle 20 metres out. Ramor retaliated with a great point from centre half back Shane Gaffney to leave a half time score of 1-6 to 0-6 in Ramor's favour.

The second half started with Ramor dominating, yet unable to score as they kicked four consecutive wides before Paul Quealy steadied matters with a fine point in the 5th minute. From the kick-out Christopher Sheils gained possession and his fine pass set up Paul Quealy for another point for Ramor. Ramor had another wide before half time sub Jack Brady stretched his sides lead in the 9th minute with a free. A foul on Declan Beard in the 10th minute allowed Niall Mc Dermott to score a point. A minute later, the same player had another free on target. Ramor replied as Paddy Brennan was pulled down by Killian Mc Bride and Jack Brady slotted over the free. From the kick out the ball was won and fed to Ado Cole who was fouled and young Brady converted the free and put his side 6 points clear. Two minutes later a foul by Patrick Carroll allowed Jack Brady another free conversion. Declan Beard cut the deficit to 6 with a pointed free. From the resultant kick-out, a great move involving Anthony Gaynor, and Pauric O'Reilly fed the ball to Paul Galligan whose rasping shot left the Ramor keeper helpless and only three points between the sides. Some fine fielding by the in-form Anton O'Reilly and a quick ball into the free flowing Ramor forward line resulted in a foul on Ado Cole and young Jack Brady was on target yet again. From the kick-out Anton O'Reilly made a fine catch, laid it off to Paddy Mc Namee whose quick pass to Jack Brady resulted in a fisted point. The momentum was back with Ramor at this stage, and Ballinagh suffered a blow with as Declan Beard was injured in the 24th minute. He was replaced by Kevin Smith.

Niall Mc Dermott and Jack Brady exchanged frees in the 26th and 28th minutes, and then sub Kevin Smith pointed from play for Ballinagh to reduce the gap to 4 with a minute left. Any hopes Ballinagh had of a late steal were quashed when a foul on Ronan Keating allowed Jack Brady to convert a free from way out at the 45 m line. Referee Ollie Donohoe called time and the final score was 1-16 to 1-11.

The Ramor management will be happy with the response from their players after their crushing defeat in the championship. Their work rate all over the field was hugely improved and they played in a more cohesive manner, wasting very little, especially in the second half. Ramor's mid-field duo dominated and were a springboard for a very hungry forward line .Ballinagh struggled at times, particularly in mid-field, and they seemed to lack pace and direction in the second half and were overly reliant on Niall Mc Dermott. However, they showed the odd spark and looked dangerous in the forward line linking up well together.

Ramor; Aodghan Cahill, Raymond Farrelly, Stefan Connolly, Damien Barkey, Gareth Daly, Shane Gaffney, (0-1) Barry Fitzsimons, Anton O'Reilly,(0-2, 1 f) Shane Cole,(0-1), Donal Farrelly, Peter Monaghan, Christopher Sheils, Paddy Brennan, Paddy Mc Namee,(1-2) Paul Quealy(0-2).
Subs Used; Ado Cole, Jack Brady, (0-8, 7 f) Ronan Keating, Stephen Monaghan, Ray Cole.

Ballinagh; Daragh Mc Carthy, Killian MC Bride, Patrick Carroll, Enda Gavin, Enda Brady, Niall O'Reilly, Anthony Gaynor, Alan Durkin, Pauric O'Reilly, Paul Galligan, (1-0) David Finnegan(0-2), Declan Beard,(0-2, f) Niall Mc Dermott, (0-6, 4 f) Thomas Moore, Colin Gumley.
Subs Used; Kevin Smith,(0-1) Adrian Maguire.