Ratoath 1-18 Dunshaughlin 1-8

Defending champions Ratoath got the defence of their title off to a successful start with a 1-18 to 1-8 victory over Dunshaughlin at Ashbourne.

The Black and Ambers were a match for their opponents in the opening quarter when they posted 1-3 to Ratoath’s 0-6. Senior debutant Ruairí Kinsella matched Ratoath’s opening point with one of his own in the early minutes and though the champions edged ahead soon after Kinsella was back on the scoreboard by the tenth minute with a well-taken goal that gave his side the lead. Ratoath then recorded four uninterrupted points before Luke Mitchell slotted over two frees to leave the sides tied at the water break.

The unfortunate dismissal of Ben Duggan with a black card just before the water break for an innocuous looking tackle reduced Dunshaughlin’s options and Ratoath recorded a substantial 1-5 during this period to lead by 1-11 to 1-3 at half time.

Dunshaughlin made valiant efforts to reduce the deficit in the second half and were rewarded with early points from Kinsella and Mitchell, but a Ratoath spurt produced another four points before the water break. The final quarter, like the first was an even contest, with both sides recording three points, all of Dunshaughlin’s from the in-form Luke Mitchell. Ratoath look likely to top the group while Dunshaughlin will expect to improve their performance and results in the remaining two games to make the knock-out stages.

Dunshaughlin: Adam McDermott; Oisín Foley, Alastar Doyle, Seán Gaughan; David Fildes, Tadhg O Dúshláine, Marc Leddy; Ben Duggan, Adam Kealy; John McDonagh, Matthew Moyles, Mathew Costello; Ruairí Kinsella (1-2), Niall Murphy, Luke Mitchell (0-6). Subs: Fursey Blake for Fildes; Eric Casserley for McDonagh.

Tweet

Most Read Stories