Ratoath 0-18 Navan O’Mahony’s 2-8

Ratoath are the Meath Minor Football Championship Division 1 winners for the fourth time in the club’s history with this four point win over Navan O’Mahony’s. This very entertaining decider was played in front of a large crowd in perfect conditions at Ashbourne. PHOTOS

Michael Cooper got the scoreboard working for the winners. Adam McEvoy replied for O’Mahony’s before the impressive Cooper added his second. Bobby Gaffney levelled matters at the midway point before Ratoath took over. For the next 15 minutes they outscored the Navan side 0-7 to 0-1 to set up a solid platform for victory. County man Adam Ducie lit up the second quarter with five points. Further scores from the  outstanding Eoin Feldman and Cooper gave Ratoath a 0-9 to 0-3 lead heading into injury time. Just before the short whistle O’Mahony’s full forward Rian Porter, who went into the game carrying a hamstring injury, gave the Navan boys a lifeline with a goal.

Gavin Daly and Cormac Nugent exchanged points in the opening four minutes of the second half before Ratoath hit another purple patch. Cooper, Feldman, Evan Dunne (2) and Ducie raised white flags to open up a 0-15 to 1-4 lead. Most in the large crowd would have thought the Delany Cup was heading home with the boys in Blue and Gold but O’Mahony’s had other ideas. Cormac Nugent hit three in a row from frees before Adam McEvoy was in for their second goal. Porter followed with a point from a free and all of a sudden the lead was down to one with three minutes left on the clock. Extra time maybe. Ratoath were having none of it and showing outstanding composure they hit the last three points to run out deserving winners.

After the game joint captains Rory McGrath and Robert Hayes were presented with the Delany Cup in front of their large following to complete a memorable six days for the club.

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