Brady's cameo off the bench swings it Ramor's way

SFC round 3

Ramor United 2-15

Killygarry 4-7

Paul Fitzpatrick at New Inns

Where to start with this one? Both sides appeared to have won it and lost it but, in the end, Ramor had their noses in front when it mattered.

A synopsis of the helter skelter last quarter of an hour: A Darragh Lovett goal on 50 minutes put Killygarry three points ahead. Five minutes later, a fisted Jack Brady goal signalled a draw. Ramor were two points up with 61 minutes played when Lovett completed his hat-trick – but a 36th minute James Brady penalty was the clinching score as the Virginia men happened to have their noses in front when the long whistle sounded.

It was that sort of match, hard to make sense of. There is the feeling that Killygarry are a little like a heavyweight boxer with a suspect chin; they can and do land concussive blows but against the best opposition, they tend to ship too much damage, as evidenced by the fact that only Castlerahan have conceded more in this year’s SFC.

It makes them highly watchable, though, and they contributed hugely to the spectacle here. Both sides were down several starters but they produced an enthralling match in which the lead flip-flopped on numerous occasions.

Ramor created the first goal chance just seconds in, speedster Conor Nulty’s effort cleared off the line, and that set the tone.

Oliver McCrystal opened the scoring with a point before Killygarry bagged the first of the game’s six goals when Oisin Brady played in Darragh Lovett, his shot was turned on to the bar by Oisin Rourke and the rebound fell perfectly for Cian Keaney to tuck away.

A Keaney free after Brady was fouled and a similar effort by Lovett made it 1-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes but Ramor then came into the contest.

An excellent left-footed point by Cathal Maguire got them going before James Bradley added a free. A lovely point on the turn by Lovett left three in it but Ramor replied with a Bradley free after good work from Nulty.

Keaney landed a super score off his right but Ramor were starting to hum. Two well-taken points in a minute from McCrystal cut the gap to the minimum.

A Bradley free tied the game and Ramor hit the front just before half-time when good work from Conor Bradley and Matthew Smith resulted in a quality point from Brían O’Connell to leave it 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.

McCrystal sent over his fourth point on the resumption, a terrific effort after Nulty’s pace again caused problems and a Smith free after O’Connell was felled sent Ramor three ahead.

But back came Killygarry. Sub Conor Smith, in his first action of the campaign, found Lovett, who hit the net – draw game.

Ramor suddenly looked jittery. The resulting kick-out was thrown up and, after a scramble, they cleared off the line. Two poor wides from Smith and O’Connell followed and when Keaney pointed, Terry Hyland’s men were back in front.

Ramor levelled with a rare point from Damien Barkey, who took a pass from sub Enda Maguire and fisted over, but Killygarry again struck gold moments later.

A long delivery eluded the Ramor defence, Conor Smith won it and no better man than Lovett came steaming off the shoulder and buried it to the net to make it 3-6 to 0-12 with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.

There followed six scoreless minutes, and then Ramor hit the jackpot again. A driving run from Smith created a chance and centre-back Jack Brady got on the end to palm home a vital goal.

Jack’s brother, James, recently returned from Australia, was now in the fray and would make a match-winning contribution. He kicked a beauty from play to make it a one-point game again and soon added a left-footed free which went over via the upright.

Keaney registered from a free at the other end and then, a minute into injury time, came Killygarry’s fourth goal. After some slick handpassing, it fell to Lovett who completed his hat-trick with an emphatic finish to make it 4-7 to 1-14.

There was still time for more drama. James Brady spectacularly won a mark and converted it.

Killygarry needed to win possession and they did with a big fetch from Mattie McKenna but they could only muster a wide.

Ramor, chasing the game, pushed again and were rewarded when Gareth Mannion was fouled in the area and James Brady stepped up to bury the resultant spot kick to the roof of the net, this time with the right boot.

Killygarry, it should be noted, were annoyed that a foul on Oisin Brady in the build-up was not dealt with at the time; play continued and Ramor created and converted that last chance.

Ramor had another opportunity with a three-on-one on the break but the move was butchered. Killygarry, who had by now lost Smith to a black card, pressed again but couldn’t magick up a fifth goal before the final whistle sounded to conclude an exhilarating contest.

Ramor United: Oisin Rourke, Damien Barkey (0-1), Adam O'Connell, Lorcan Lynch, Conor Bradley, Jack Brady (1-0), Ben Smith, Brían O'Connell (0-1), Sean Brady, Matthew Smith (0-2f), Eoin Somerville, James Bradley (0-3f), Cathal Maguire (0-1), Oliver McCrystal (0-4), Conor Nulty

Subs:  Enda Maguire for L Lynch (45), Gareth Mannion for E Somerville (52), Nathan Levy-Valensi for S Brady (53), James Brady (1-3, 21f, 1m, 1-0 pen) for J Bradley (55)

Killygarry: Stephen Lovett, Daryl Dunne, Ross Sheridan, Anselm Lovett, Darragh Kennedy, Cian Reilly, Kevin Lovett, Ryan Brady, Matthew McKenna, Martin Reilly, Oisin Brady, Ben Mooney, Callum Lynch, Darragh Lovett (3-3, 2f), Cian Keaney (1-4, 2f)

Subs: David Talbot for D Dunne (26), Daniel Walsh for C Lynch (ht), Conor Smith for B Mooney (41), Shane Cosgrove for D Kennedy (60)

Ref: K Olwell