Kildalkey 3-23 Ratoath 3-21

Kildalkey welcomed Ratoath the jubilee cup winners of the past 2 years to Fr Plunkett park on Sunday morning for the final round of the Division 1HL needing a draw or a win to reach the final while Ratoath had to win to knock out holders Kildalkey so there was a lot on the line for both teams.

Ratoath opened the scoring with a point from play from their first attack from the throw in as they signalled their intent but Kildalkey replied through Paddy Conneely 

Ratoath hit 2 goals in the half but it was the hosts who led by the minimum at the break 1-13 to 2-9 the kildalkey goal coming from Potterton who cleverly nudged his shot home 

While Jamie Kavanagh, Kelvin Lynch, Evan Fitzgerald, Niall McNally, Paddy Potterton and Luke Rickard all registered white flags with all scores coming from play 

Ratoath started the second half the same as the first with a point from the throw in from their midfielder and both teams went point for point with Matt Rickard Nicky and Paddy Potterton and Coneely on target for the village 

Podge O'Hanrahan who was popping up everywhere then struck for a goal from the right wing as Ratoath hit for home but minutes later Paddy Conneely’s ground shot hit the net after Nicky Pottertons run in and offload to him.

Luke Rickard and Nicky Potterton struck points to counter 2 Hanrahan frees but with time ticking down Ratoath led by a point and a long ball in was gathered by Potterton in the corner who crossed to Evan Fitzgerald who struck the net to win the game for the village after a hugely entertaining and high scoring encounter played in glorious sunshine.

Kildalkey meet Kiltale in the final a repeat of last year’s decider and the village will want to hold onto it after already claiming the Brendan Davis cup but Kiltale will be thinking the same.

Both teams are also due to meet in the first round of the championship in a few weeks time.

Kildalkey team and scorers: 1 C Smith, 2 D Conneely, 3 B Kelly, 4 C Colhoun, 5 M Rickard, 6 N McNally (0-1), 7 C McNally, 8 J Kavanagh (0-2), 9 K Lynch (0-1), 10 P Conneely (1-4), 11 E Fitzgerald (1-3), 12 L Rickard (0-3), 13 C Fitzgerald, 14 N Potterton (1-6)(4f), 15 P Potterton (0-2)

Subs 

C McGourty for B Kelly, E Geoghegan for M Rickard, G Kelly for C Fitzgerald, A Potterton for C McGourty 

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