SHC final: Kildalkey thank Evan
October 16, 2023
Kildalkey's Nicky Potterton with Liam Kelly Ratoath during the Meath SHC final at Pairc Tailteann
Evan Fitzgerald's 'Man-of-the-Match' display from midfield was crucial to Kildalkey overcoming 14-man Ratoath in the SHC final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon. PHOTOS
Kildalkey ............. 0-19
Ratoath ............... 0-16
The manager's son shared six points with midfielder partner Brian O'Halloran as they drove Kildalkey on, particularly in the latter stages.
The outcome keeps Kildalkey's treble bid intact.They have the JHC and SHC in the bag and now await the IHC final replay with Navan O'Mahonys.
Ratoath bossed the opening half and were still in contention until Nick Fitzgerald's men pulled clear in the final quarter to secure the Jubilee Cup for the third time in five years.
For Ratoath it was the opposite. Since regaining senior status they have lost three SHC finals in the last four years.
To compound matters they endured SFC and SHC final losses this year and it is now 60 years since their sole senior hurling title was won.
Things began brightly for Mikey Cole's men. Despite concedeing the opening point to the game's eventual top scorer, Nicky Potterton, Ratoath quickly asserted themselves and gave their vocal support something cheer about.
The scores were level three times in the opening quarter before moved 0-8 to 0-4 ahead after 22 minutes. Mainly due to the efforts of Fitzgerald and Nicky Potterton, Kildalkey trimmed the deficit.
Kildalkey got the gap down to the minimum by the 26th minute with an Evan Fitzgerald point being the most notable score in that sequence.
Ratoath closed the half with two Padraig O'Hanrahan frees and lef by 0-10 to 0-7 at half-time. Ratoath suffered a major setback in first-half stoppage time when Daithi McGowan was red-carded.
Despite their numerical deficiency, Ratoath's superior fitness seemed set to give them the edge. They resumed with a Padraig O'Hanrahan point to go 0-11 to 0-7 clear.
Gradually Kildalkey upped their game and were level for the fitth tiime midway through the half.
The sides were level three times in the final quarter leaving extra time a possibility. Fitzgerald tied up the scores for the eighth and final time in the 62nd minute.
In the rousing finale, Kildalkey's superior skill saw them edge to their third SHC success in five years while keeping Ratoath at bay.
Scorers: Kildalkey - Nicky Potterton 0-9 (6fs, 2 65s); Evan Fitzgerald 0-3; Brian O'Halloran 0-3; Paddy Conneely 0-2 (1f); Martin Healy 0-1; James McNally 0-1.
Ratoath - Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-7 (6fs); Cian Rogers 0-4; Niall McLarnon 0-1; Daithi McGowan 0-1; Padraig Byrne 0-1; Tomas Corbett 0-1; Darragh Kelly 0-1.
Kildalkey - Mark McCormack; David Conneely (c), James McNally, Brendan McKeon; David Harmon, Martin Healy,Brin Kelly; Evan Fitzgerald, Brian O'Halloran; Mark Healy, Gary Kelly, Nicky Potterton; Patrick Potterton, Paddy Conneely, Niall McNally. Subs - Brian Conneely for Mark Healy (46), Paddy Barnwell for N McNally (55), Kevin McKeon for Fitzgerald (70+ 2).
Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Tomas Corbett, Conor McGill, Sean Murphy; Domhnall Rogers, Ben McGowan, Liam Kelly; Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Niall McLarnon; Daithi McGowan, Jack McGowan (c), Ronan Byrne; Padraig O'Hanrahan, Gavin McGowan, Sean Corbett. Subs - Darragh Kelly for Rogers (ht), Bryan McMahon for Rogers (bs 34-37), Sean Corbett for Byrne (43), Bryan McMahon for C O'Hanrahan (43), Cian Kelly for Murphy (52).
Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna)
