Crosserlough’s superior management of Storm Ashley proved pivotal as they claimed their second Cavan SFC title in the past five years.
In horrendous conditions at Kingspan Breffni, Stephen Smith’s soccer-style goal (64) put the tin hat on a deserved victory for the Kilnaleck-based crew.
Backed by a gale-force wind in the opening half, 2021 winners Ramor United notched 11 wides – compared to their opponents’ four after the interval – in a fatal first-half display.
Crosserlough played 15 men behind the ball for most of the first half after Emmet Boylan’s free opened their account with less than a minute on the clock.
With Matthew Costello playing an excellent sweeping role for the ’Lough, Ramor laboured to make their backing from the elements count as the game progressed.
Ramor lacked the urgency to construct a necessary cushioned lead at the interval but they got a glimmer of hope when Cathal Maguire ended a 19-minute barren spell with a point to make it 0-2 apiece at the interval.
With Jack Brady to the fore, Ramor were much more workmanlike in the third quarter, even though Conor Rehill’s point edged the ’Lough into the lead by the odd point in five after 34 minutes.
The war of attrition continued as Matthew Smith’s free (46) tied it up before Rehill’s 53rd-minute goal – direct from a 66-metre mark – highlighted an unanswered 1-2 in a deadly seven-minute spell for the eventual winners.
Crosserlough proceeded to coast their way across the finish line with Smith’s soccer-style goal in the dying seconds capping a smart and efficient display by his team.
Scorers – Crosserlough: C Rehill (m), S Smith 1-0 each; E Boylan (1f) 0-2; B Boylan (f), J Smith, S Smith, M Costello (f) 0-1 each. Ramor Utd: M Smith 0-2f; C Maguire, J Bradley (f) 0-1 each.
Crosserlough: S McManus; J Cooke, C Rehill, F Lovett; C Boylan, P O’Reilly, K Smith; E Boylan, P Smith; O Rehill, D McVeety, H Boylan; B Boylan, J Smith, M Costello. Subs: E Cusack for O Rehill (44); S Smith for E Boylan (49); D Shalvey for K Smith (57); R Galligan for P Smith (inj, 59).
Ramor Utd: L Brady; Matthew Magee, A O’Connell, D Barkey; B Smith, Jack Brady, Mark Magee; P McNamee, B O’Connell; J Bradley, E Sommerville, C Bradley; C Maguire, A Cole, M Smith. Subs: James Brady for E Somerville (7); G Mannion for C Bradley (8); C Bradley for C Maguire (inj, 30); S Brady for B O’Connell (inj, 34).
Ref: B McMenamin (Kill Shamrocks)