Gaelic Games

Club football finals round-up: Ramor sprint from the blocks to claim a fifth Cavan crown

Heslin earns replay for St Loman’s; Tullamore block Rhode; Portarlington retain in style and more

Ramor United celebrate after winning the Cavan SFC Final replay against Gowna at Kingspan Breffni Park. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho

Sun Nov 14 2021 - 17:16

Ramor Utd 1-15 Gowna 0-14
Ramor United made good of their second bite of the cherry as they annexed their fifth Cavan SFC title in a high-tempo replay at Kingspan Breffni Park.

An early goal by wing forward James Brady was just the scaffold Ramor needed to construct a substantial 1-8 to 0-2 lead by the 16th minute.

Brady was his side’s general-in-chief but he had able lieutenants in fellow full forwards Ado Cole and Seán McEvoy who accounted for the balance of their team’s tally.

Gowna gradually awoke from their slumber and a brace of points from Robbie Fitzpatrick helped cut Ramor’s lead to a more manageable six points (0-5 to 1-8) after 20 minutes.

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Referee Margaret Farrelly became the first woman to referee a senior men’s county football final in the Cavan SFC replay. Photograph: John McVitty/Inpho

The eventual winners were seldom out of their comfort zone though, with Gowna’s inability to engineer a decent supply to their frontmen a major millstone.

Gowna improved as the game wore on but still trailed by 0-8 to 1-10 at the interval. And when Oisín Pierson pulled another point back for his side just 13 seconds after the restart, hopes of a comeback were fuelled.

Ramor were made to look to their laurels when Conor Casey’s excellent long-range point cut their lead to 1-13 to 0-12 entering the final quarter.

Gowna enjoyed a raft of possession in the run-in but never looked like nicking the goal they needed to spring a get-out-of-jail card.

RAMOR UNITED: L Brady; C Maguire, D Barkey, Matthew Magee; A O'Connell, Jack Brady, Mark Magee; L McCaffrey, E Maguire; B Smith, B O'Connell, S Cadden; James Brady (1-8, four frees), A Cole (0-3), S McEvoy (0-4, two frees).

Subs: K Maguire for L Caffrey (40), G Mannion for B Smith (47), J Bradley for C Maguire (59).

GOWNA: R Bannon; Cormac Brady, M McKeever, R McGahern; J Madden, R Brady, T Madden; R Donohoe, Conor Brady; R Fitzpatrick (0-4, three frees), O Pierson (0-2), Cian Madden (0-4, four frees); A Brady (0-1), Conor Madden (0-2), C Casey (0-1).

Subs: R Keogh for O Pierson (inj, 42), S Harton for R Fitzpatrick (53), G Pearson for A Brady (62).

Referee: Margaret Farrelly (Laragh Utd).

Heslin’s late leveller keeps St Loman’s hopes alive in Westmeath


St Loman's, Mullingar 0-13 Garrycastle 0-13
A converted 30-metre free by John Heslin with the last kick of the game ensured that St Loman's, Mullingar held on their Westmeath senior football title for at least another week after a pulsating game played in ideal conditions at TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

St Loman’s led by a point (0-3 to 0-2) after eight minutes, but Garrycastle–- managed by their former player Gary Dolan, Dessie’s brother – took control, playing incisive football from defence to attack. They fired over seven unanswered points, three of them from Michael Monaghan, by the 25th minute and were full value for their four-point lead at the interval (0-9 to 0-5).

In sharp contrast to the early stages of the first half, the opening 10 minutes of the second was full of ragged and disjointed football, with both sides – St Loman’s, in particular – kicking poor wides. Alex Gardiner’s 40-metre free with the last kick before the second water-break was Garrycastle’s first score of the half, leaving them in front by 0-10 to 0-7.

The last quarter was full of drama, if not necessarily quality football. A brace of points from Heslin, including his only score from play, left his side a point down approaching the end of normal time.

The introduction of 42-year-old Dessie Dolan at that stage was a surprise to the huge crowd. With time almost up, Gardiner bore down on goal and opted to go for a three-pointer which Jason Daly saved, enabling Heslin to save the day with his last-gasp free.

ST LOMAN'S, MULLINGAR: J Daly; D Whelan, O Hogan, D O'Keeffe; J Geoghegan, K Reilly (0-1), C O'Donoghue; S Flanagan, S McCartan; R Sheehan, R O'Toole (0-1), TJ Cox (0-3); F Ayotrinde, J Heslin (0-7, five frees, one mark), P Foy (0-1).

Subs: K Regan for Sheehan (23), P Dowdall for O'Donoghue (27), S Dempsey for Foy (35), K Casey for Hogan (44).

GARRYCASTLE: S Brennan; M McCallon, J Donohue, G McCallon; D Harte, J Gaffey (0-1), B Kelly; A Monaghan, J Barrett (0-1); T O'Halloran (0-1, free), E Mulvihill, E Monaghan; M Monaghan (0-3), A Gardiner (0-4, one free), J Dolan (0-1).

Subs: J Nugent for E Monaghan (44), C Cosgrove (0-1, free) for Kelly (50), J Sheerin (0-1) for M Monaghan (52), D Dolan for O'Halloran (60).

Referee: D Maher (Ballynacargy).

Tullamore block Rhode to ride off with Offaly honours


Tullamore 0-9 Rhode 1-4
A heroic defensive display saw Tullamore capture the Offaly senior football title at the second attempt when they deservedly beat champions Rhode in O'Connor Park.

Tullamore were dismayed when a late equalising goal from Niall McNamee denied them in the drawn game but they were the clear masters here. McNamee had the rare experience of not scoring for Rhode, who had the equally rare experience of only scoring four points.

Man-of-the-match John Furlong and Declan Hogan were magnificent in the Tullamore defence and their attack did just enough. In a very tough game of football, Tullamore had the edge for the most part and always looked like they would get home.

They led by 0-4 to 0-3 at half-time and could have been further ahead. It was 0-5 to 0-4 two minutes into the second half and Rhode’s dominance grew more pronounced as it wore on.

Johnny Moloney (free), Diarmuid Egan, Nigel Bracken and John Furlong pushed them five clear in injury-time and it meant that an Anton Sullivan penalty goal at the end was only of academic interest.

TULLAMORE: C White; N Bracken (0-1), D Hogan, P McConway; K O'Brien, J Moloney (0-2, one free), O Keenan-Martin; M Brazil, A Leavy (0-1); H Plunkett, D Egan (0-1), C Egan (0-1); L Egan, L Plunklett (0-2), J Furlong (0-1).

Subs: S Dooley for Ciaran Egan (39), C Burns for O'Brien (42), T Furlong for H Plunkett (60), M Fox for L Plunkett (62).

RHODE: K Garry; J McPadden, C McNamee, K Murphy; B Darby, D Kavanagh, N Darby; A McNamee, A Sullivan (1-1, 1-0 pen); P Sullivan, R McNamee (0-3), C Heavey; D Garry, A Kellaghan, N McNamee.

Subs: G McNamee for Pauric Sullivanh (h/t), S Sullivan for Heavey (44), G O'Connell for Kellaghan (52).

Referee: F Pierce.

Portarlington shoot the lights out to retain Laois title


Portarlington 4-9 Portlaoise 0-6
Portarlington retained the Laois SFC title with a dominant performance over Portlaoise in O'Moore Park.

Having only won the 2020 title back in August, they utterly controlled this game against Laois’ most successful club to record a 15-point win.

The Murphy brothers hit 3-3 between them with Jake Foster hitting 0-5 and man of the match Paddy O’Sullivan exceptional from the half-back line.

Port got off to a dream start and were 1-3 to no score up after just seven minutes, the goal coming from the lively Adam Ryan.

Colm Murphy added a second before half-time and they led 2-7 to 0-2 at the break.

They could even afford a penalty miss in the second half as Ronan Coffey was denied by Graham Brody but they never looked like being caught and late goals from Colm and David Murphy saw them finish in style.

PORTARLINGTON: S Osborne; C Bennett, D Bennett, A Mohan; S Mulpeter, R Pigott, P O'Sullivan; K Bracken, S Byrne; A Ryan (1-0), R Coffey (0-1), R Murphy; J Foster (0-5, four frees), D Murphy (1-1), C Murphy (2-2, one free, one mark).

Subs: S O'Neill for D Murphy (48), C Slevin for Coffey (51), J Fitzpatrick for R Murphy (54), D Foster for A Ryan (55), J Fulham for J Foster (57).

PORTLAOISE: G Brody; B Dempsey, G Saunders, F Flanagan; K Swayne, C Finn, P Downey; K Lillis, C McEvoy; R McEvoy (0-1), G Dillon (0-1), C Boyle; B Carroll (0-1), D Larkin, P Cahillane (0-1).

Subs: J Kavanagh for Cahillane (inj, 15), D Holland for Downey and R Maher (0-2, one free) for R McEvoy (h/t), J Hogan for Finn (42), B Brennan for Swayne (48).

Referee: B Hickey (Graiguecullen).

Jodie Donohue leads Shelmaliers home in Wexford


Shelmaliers 2-11 Gusserane O'Rahillys 1-10
Jodie Donohoe was the toast of Shelmaliers as his 1-2 in the second half inspired his side to a four-point victory over Gusserane O'Rahillys in this closely fought Wexford senior football championship final played at Chadwicks Wexford Park.

The game was finely balanced with Shelmaliers holding just a single-point lead at the interval. But with the margin still separating the sides on 50 minutes, it was Donohoe who got on the end of a sweeping movement to fire high into the roof of the net, a goal that was to send his side on the way to victory.

The sides were deadlocked 0-3 each when an Arnie Murphy point gave the Shels the lead at the first water-break, but four minutes before the break it was Murphy who struck for the game’s opening goal, finishing from close range, giving his side a 1-5 to 0-4 lead.

It was Gusserane who finished the half strongly with points from Mark Rossiter, Adrian Redmond and Adrian Flynn to leave the minimum separating the sides at the interval, 1-5 to 0-7.

When it looked as if Shels were about to assume control moving into a three-point lead, a delightful 41st-minute Mark Rossiter goal brought the sides back level, 1-8 apiece.

Eoghan Nolan and a Rossiter free exchanged points, while Jody Donohoe lofted over a great point. And it was the same player who had tormented the defence following his half-time introduction, who popped up for the goal that was to eventually decide the destination of the title.

SHELMALIERS: C McCabe; A O'Brien, J Cash, G Staples; R Banville, S Donohoe, A Cash; G Malone (0-5, four frees), E Nolan (0-1); S Keane-Carroll, A Murphy (1-1), P O'Leary (0-1); K Roche, B Malone, C Hearne (0-1).

Subs: J Donohoe (1-2) for Roche (h/t), M Power for O'Leary (43), E Doyle for Murphy (53), D Campbell for Keane-Carroll (58).

GUSSERANE O'RAHILLY'S: M Ryan; J O'Connor, K Cahill, A Redmond (0-1); G Sheehan, M O'Neill, E Ryan; J Roche, C Kehoe; A Flynn (0-2), G Cullen, P Conway (0-1); S Ryan, T Foran (0-1), M Rossiter (1-5, three frees).

Subs: J Burford for Cahill (43), J Sheehan for Flynn (52), S Wall for Foran (69).

Referee: K Carty (Sarsfields).

Brian Murphy leads from front as Rathvilly end Éire Óg’s reign


Rathvilly 2-12 Éire Óg 1-10
Rathvilly derailed Éire Óg's bid for a fifth successive Carlow SFC title on Sunday at Netwatch Cullen Park, a late rally seeing the challengers deservedly take their ninth championship and their first since 2014.

Rathvilly captain Brian Murphy gave a man-of-the-match performance, scoring a total of 1-8 in an outstanding performance of clinical finishing. He was on hand to shoot into an empty net in the game’s first minute before Éire Óg hit back, with full forward Chris Blake causing alarm bells in the Rathvilly defence as he notched 1-3 from play in the opening half. The sides went in tied 1-6 apiece at half-time.

They were still level at the second water-break but Rathvilly’s greater hunger saw them hit three unanswered points from the Murphy brothers, Brian and Brendan, to put the north county side on the way to victory.

Éire Óg had a great chance of a levelling goal on 56 minutes when substitute Murtough Ware, availing of turnover ball, saw his close-range shot brilliantly saved by Rathvilly goalkeeper Robbie Molloy.

The icing was on the Rathvilly cake when substitute Eric Molloy found the net following a melee in the Éire Óg goalmouth as the challengers denied the townsmen a 31st SFC crown.

RATHVILLY: R Molloy; B J Molloy, P Curran, D Curran; J Moore, C Doyle, P Deering; Brendan Murphy (0-1), E Finnegan; K Murphy, A Kelly, C Byrne; Brian Murphy (1-8, six frees) B Smith, J Elliott (0-3, one free).

Subs: E Molloy (1-0) for Kelly (42), D Molloy for Byrne (54), T Bolger for Deering (56), P Bolger for Elliott (62).

ÉIRE ÓG: R Moore; K Chatten, M Fitzgerald, B Kavanagh (0-1); J Lowry, M Furey, P McElligott; J Morrissey, R Dunphy; S Gannon, A Murphy, R Denieffe; D O'Brien (0-5, five frees), C Blake (1-3), C Hulton.

Subs: M Ware for Denieffe (h/t), N Quinlan (0-1, free) for Hulton (51), E Ruth for Murphy (51), S Buggy for Fitzgerald (56), L Moore for Furey (64).

Referee: P O'Dwyer (Palatine).

Kickhams Creggan celebrate becoming Antrim senior champions at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photograph: Cathal McOscar/Inpho

Creggan end 67-year wait as they claim Antrim title


Kickhams Creggan 1-12 St Mary's, Aghagallon 0-7
Kickhams Creggan lifted their first Antrim senior football title since 1954 at a wet Corrigan Park on Sunday courtesy of a six-point win over St Mary's, Aghagallon.

Creggan dominated the opening exchanges and led by 0-4 to no score after 11 minutes. Matthew Rodgers opened the scoring with a mark and then slotted over a point from play. Ruairí McCann and Kevin Small increased the Creggan lead before Aghagallon opened their account when goalkeeper Luke Mulholland converted a 45.

The Creggan defence was turning over the Aghagallon forwards at will and Jamie McCann was next to get on the scoresheet for the winners. Gareth Magee converted an Aghagallon free but the Creggan men were good value for their 0-7 to 0-2 half-time lead when Rodgers and Ruairí McCann added points.

The Creggan dominance continued after the restart and they extended their lead to seven points after 42 minutes when McCann added his third.

Aghagallon clawed the deficit back to four points as the final whistle approached but with Aghagallon committed to their quest for a goal, Creggan forced a turnover on out-of-position goalkeeper Mulholland and Sam Maguire had the easy task of firing to an empty net to seal the title.

CREGGAN: O Kerr; E Carey-Small, R Johnson, E McAteer; A Maguire, M Johnson (0-1), J McCann (0-2, one free); K Small (0-2), Conor McCann; T McAteer (0-1), P Coey, S Duffin; M Rodgers (0-3, one mark), R McCann (0-3 one free), O McLarnon.

Subs: Conor McCann for S Duffin (46), K Rice for M Rodgers (49), F Burke for O McLarnon (55), S Maguire (1-0) for T McAleer (60+1), T McCann for P Coey (60+4).

AGHAGALLON: L Mulholland (0-1, a 45); P Branagan, D Donnelly, A Mulholland; Darryl McAlernon (0-1, free), R O'Neill, J Lamont; David McAlernon, J Lenehan; E Walsh, A Loughran (0-1), M McAfee; G Magee (0-4, one free), R McCann, C McAlinden.

Subs: O Lenehan for C McAlinden (26), P Mulholland for A Mulholland (44), P Maginnis for M McAfee (49)

Referee: C McDonald (St Galls).