Ramor dethrone Gowna to return to senior final

SFC semi-final

Ramor United 2-10

Gowna 1-11

Paul Fitzpatrick at Kingspan Breffni

It’s a quirk of the club scene that Ramor United are unbeaten in championship football against Gowna since 2009 and the Virginia men continued that record here as they ground out a two-point win, thus dethroning the three-in-a-row seeking champions.

There was little between the teams; the sides were level four times and there was rarely more than a point between them but, crucially, Gowna only led once, by a point and for less than a minute, which backs up the general sense that Ramor deserved their win on the day.

In ideal conditions, this was a better contest than the low-scoring, defensive game, played in high winds, the evening before. This one was physical – producing 33 frees (18 for Ramor, 15 for Gowna), which is about average – and some good scores, although there were plenty of errors too.

Gowna's tendency to leak goals proved costly - including the league final, which they also lost to Ramor, they have conceded 15 in their last seven games - while, encouragingly for the winners whose defence has always been exceptional, the Ramor attack is functioning well again as a unit, even though they did replace four forwards on the day.

Ramor were ahead by a point at the end of a slow-burner of a first half in which they went four ahead only for Gowna to claw it back to level. In hindsight, this period was vital for Ramor.

Jude and Pat McNabb’s side have tended to start slowly this year but that wasn’t the case here as they dominated the first dozen or so minutes, making it count on the scoreboard too as Gowna registered three early wides. James Bradley took a pass from Brían O’Connell and, in lots of space, opened Ramor’s account just 60 seconds in.

Target man Ado Cole was involved in most of Ramor’s scores and he broke down a long delivery in the lead-up to their second point, the impressive Ben Smith selling a neat dummy and curling over from the wing.

Cole also laid on the next one for Oliver McCrystal as Ramor made it 0-3 to 0-0 after nine minutes and that lead was extended when Matthew Smith knocked over a free after Mattie Magee was fouled.

As the half wore on, however, Gowna began to win primary possession at midfield, particularly from their own kick-out. A clean catch from Ryan Donohoe secured possession in the build-up to their opening score, a well-taken Conor Madden effort.

Having found their range, Gowna kicked on and added three points in quick succession. Oisin Pierson gathered possession 40 metres out, surveyed his options and, seeing nothing on, flung over an excellent point with the outside of the boot.

Cillian Brady, who was Gowna’s stand-out performer in the first half despite being forced off temporarily with a head injury, registered Gowna’s third point after patient build-up play and, on 17 minutes, the match was tied when a long Daire Madden kick-out was gathered by Cillian Brady, who fed Conor Madden for his second and Gowna’s fourth.

The sides cancelled each other out for the remainder of the half. Matthew Smith converted a close-range free for Ramor and they extended their lead with a mark from Cole, who was picked out by James Bradley, but two quickfire Cian Madden frees levelled matters again.

Once more, Ramor regained the initiative when Cole won possession and found Enda Maguire galloping through, the midfielder pointing off the left, but another Cian Madden free tied it at 0-7 apiece before Matthew Smith, with a similar effort, helped his side go in ahead by the odd point in 15.

Once more, Cian Madden stepped up to level the match with a 40-metre free on the restart but the game turned on a few key incidents. Oisin Pierson was aggrieved to be shown a black card seven minutes in and while he was off, Ramor struck for their first goal.

Gowna hit the front for the first time on 42 minutes with another Madden free after Ryan Donohoe was fouled but Gareth Mannion, Ramor’s match-winner on the day, seized back the initiative for his side when he broke two tackles and sent a powerful shot to the bottom corner of the net from 15 metres out.

Madden, with yet another free, responded; Matthew Smith registered from a similar effort and then, in what felt like a big play at the time, Ryan Donohoe spectacularly fielded a 50-metre Smith free above the crossbar.

The margins were that fine; from the resulting break, Pierson’s long-range effort struck the inside of the upright and bounced harmlessly across the Ramor goalmouth.

Pierson then kicked a poor wide after a dashing Ryan Brady run - and the drama was only starting. A massive kick-out from Liam Brady beat the Gowna press and left a two-on-one, with Ado Cole off-loading for Jack Brady to palm in at the back post.

But while Ramor were celebrating, they were caught with a classic counter as Gowna, again showing their resilience, poured forward and Seanie Hartin tucked away low at the near post to cut the short-lived five-point deficit to two again.

Ramor had a wide from a Smith free as the exchanges heated up and both teams were frustrated at calls that went against them. In the frantic closing stages, Gowna had another disappointing wide, this one from Fionan Brady, and Ramor managed to conjure up a vital point with a break out of defence culminating in Mattie Magee finding the excellent Mannion, who fisted over.

Gowna hit back with a Conor Casey effort zipping inches over the bar after a short 45 but they could get no closer and Ramor held on for the win despite a late aerial bombardment from the Gowna men.

The moments after the final whistle were marred by some ugly scenes; the referee was shepherded down the tunnel and a separate altercation on the pitch also left a sour note to proceedings.

Gowna have been outstanding champions and, with youth on their side, will surely be back at the business end of the competition in the near future. Ramor, for their part, have been knocking on the door for the last two years since last winning it and will face Crosserlough for the first time in a Senior Championship final, a game which will mark their sixth final since 2016 including replays.

Gowna: Daire Madden, Cillian Brady (0-1), Ryan Brady, Eoghan Hartin, Ryan McGahern, Conor Brady, Fionán Brady, Ryan Donohoe, Robbie Fitzpatrick, Cian Madden (0-6f), Conor Madden (0-2), Tiarnan Madden, Seanie Hartin (1-0), Oisin Pierson (0-1), Conor Casey (0-1)

Subs: Cormac Brady for Cillian Brady (temp, 19, reversed 22), Cormac Brady for R Brady (temp, 37, reversed 39), Cormac Brady for R McGahern (43), Aaron Brady for Conor Brady (48), Mark McKeever for R Donohoe (60)

Ramor United: Liam Brady, Matthew Magee, Adam O’Connell, Damien Barkey, Ben Smith (0-1), Jack Brady (1-0), Mark Magee, Enda Maguire (0-1), Brían O’Connell, James Bradley (0-1), Eoin Somerville, Conor Bradley, Adrian Cole (0-1m), Oliver McCrystal (0-1), Matthew Smith (0-4f)

Subs: Gareth Mannion (1-1) for O McCrystal (38), Cathal Maguire for C Bradley (48), Conor Nulty for E Somerville (57), Ryan Mannion for A Cole (60)

Ref: Pat Clarke