Ratoath 4-10 Ballinabrackey 0-8

Ratoath marched on to the semi final of the championship with a convincing win over their conquerors from last year, Ballinabrackey on Saturday evening in Trim.

Playing against a fresh breeze in the first half Ratoath struggled to settle early on with a number of shots going wide . Their first point from play came eventually in the 13th from the boot of Eamonn Wallace who tapped over another one soon after to put his side 4 points to 2 in front.

Both defences though were well on top with scores hard to come by and it was notable that Ballinabrackey were unable to breach the Ratoath defence from open play with all 4 of their first half points coming from placed balls.It was the turn of  Frank Coyne to tip  over a point in the 23rd minute and a good long range pointed free from Conor Rooney registered Ratoath's sixth point and ensure they went in at half time 0-6 to 0-4 in front .

Fergal Power's charges came storming out in the second half and in a 12 minute spell made sure there would be no repeat of last year's comeback from the same opposition. It was Coyne who made the breakthrough as he did well to intercept a short kick out from The Ballinabrackey goalkeeper and was able to kick a ground shot, soccer style into the corner of the net. 2 minutes later in a well worked counter attacking move the ball was passed to Cian O'Brien who slotted the ball home to raise another green flag.

Rooney was then on hand in the 37th minute to deliver the 3rd goal with an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net. Shortly after the same player again finished well with goal number 4 and the game effectively was now over as a contest .Further points from Bryan McMahon, Emmet Boyle and Rooney maintained their team's advantage . That said  Ballinabrackey kept battling but found it difficult to breach the Ratoath defence with their only points from play coming towards the end in what was an emphatic  14 point win for the Ratoath outfit .

Foireann Ráth Tó: Shane Duffy, Paul Flaherty, Conor McGill, Daragh McGill, Brian O'Connor, Brian Power, Emmet Boyle (0-1), Cian O'Brien, Keith McCabe, Bryan McMahon (0-4 3 frees), Bobby O'Brien, Eamon Wallace (0-2), Conor Rooney 2-2 ( 2 frees), Frank Coyne (1-1), Gareth Rooney. Subs Brian Daly for O'Connor, Gavin Eiffe for  D McGill, Paddy Quinn for Boyle, Lenny Browne for B O'Brien, Mark Daly for C Rooney

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