U-21 Championship Division 1 Round 1.

Ramor- Munterconnaught V Lavey.

Ramor Park, Virginia, Saturday, October 9th
Referee; Oliver Donohoe.

Reigning Champions Ramor- Munterconnaught began the defence of their U-21 Title in very windy conditions in Ramor Park on Saturday last against Lavey. The visitors got off to a dream start, having racked up 2-2 to their opponents 0-3 after 10 minutes of play, and it looked like an upset was on the cards. The Lavey threat was to be short-lived, as Ramor-Munterconnaught coolly stepped up and picked off their scores in clinical fashion, and wound up convincing winners on a score-line of 3-19 to 4-6.

Shane Tierney was first on the scoresheet with a point after Christopher Conroy took a short free, and hardly a minute later Oliver Smith was on the end of a rebound shot off the Ramor post and the ball ended up in the back of the net. The hosts first score came after Jack Brady’s sweet pass allowed Shane O’Reilly to fist over the bar. Adam O’Connell operating at half back gave a burst up the field and he fired over a good point and Jack Brady followed with another in the 8th minute.

Christopher Conroy converted a free for Lavey to put two in it, and Oliver Smith was fouled in the square and ref Ollie Donohoe awarded the penalty, which Conroy duly converted with a low rasping shot to the corner. With five points separating the sides now, there was no sign of panic in the Ramor-Munterconnaught camp as they calmly set about their business. Nine unanswered points followed, from Simon Cadden, Shane O’Reilly, Damien Barkey, Colm Caffrey, Jack Brady (0-3) and Paul Quealy(0-2). They were dominating all positions and the ball was being moved effortlessly, with midfield winning possession and moving quickly forward. In the 28th minute, the in-form Paul Quealy took an excellent pass from Shane O’Reilly and he blasted in a fine goal. A free for a foul on Shane O’Reilly was converted by Jack Brady and that concluded the first half. Score; 1-12 to 2-2.

Jack Brady opened Ramor-Munterconnaught’s second half account with a point from play from a near impossible angle out at the corner flag in the opening seconds. Lavey responded with a point from Ronan Smith. Jack Brady(0-2) and Paul Quealy(0-1) stretched Ramor-Munterconnaught’s lead . Shane Tierney, who was lively throughout, pointed after Karl Duke kicked a short 45. Paul Quealy and Adrian Cole gained a point each, after excellent work by James Mc Enroe at mid-field and Adam O’Connell at half back. Further misery for Lavey ensued in the 18th minute of play when the ball was won in defence and passed up the field, won by Paul Quealy, and he spotted Shane O’Reilly, gave a neat pass and the latter made no mistake putting the ball in the Lavey net. Declan Conroy for Lavey made a good run, and passed to Shane Tierney and he scored a nice point in the 20th minute. Both sides exchanged goals; Aaron Smith made a foray up the field and ran at the defence, and ended up scoring a goal, then it was the turn of Ramor-Munterconnaught’s sub James Bradley who received a good ball in from Shane O’Reilly and he shot to the net. Ramor-Munterconnaught’s last score came from Damien Barkey in the 29th minute. Lavey had a brief rally in the dying minutes of the game when Barry Tierney nabbed a goal and Shane Tierney a point from play. The final score was Ramor-Munterconnaught 3-19, Lavey 4-6.

Ramor-Munterconnaught;Aaron Farrelly, Colm Murphy, Terry Mc Cabe, Darren Lynch, Adam O’Connell(0-1), Raymond Farrelly, Sean Nolan, James Mc Enroe, Damien Barkey(0-2), Jack Brady(0-7), Simon Cadden(0-1), Colm Caffrey(0-1), Shane O’Reilly(1-2), Paul Quealy(1-4), Adrian Cole(0-1).

Subs Used; Tadhg Morrissey, Enda Farrelly, James Bradley(1-0), Kevin Mulvanny, Stephen Keoghan.

Lavey; Finbarr Smith, Shane Conaty, Fergal Smith, Patrick Monaghan, Aaron Smith,(1-0) Declan Conroy, Barry Tierney(1-0), Karl Duke, Christopher Conroy(1-1), Darren Monaghan, Oliver Smith(1-0), Shane Mc Gonagle, Shane Tierney(0-4), Ian Carolan, Ronan Smith.(0-1)

Subs Used; Philip Ferguson, Stephen Smith.