Ratoath put a slow start behind them to overpower Na Fianna in an insipid second semi final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday

Ratoath ............... 3-11
Na Fianna ........... 0-9

Having taken about 15 minutes to settle, Ratoath overcame an 0-2 to 0-5 deficit to run out decisive winners of a fixture lacking the cut and thrust of championship football.

Once they hit the front for the first time, courtesy of a Jack Flynn 21st minute 45, there they remained to the end. Na Fianna were the only semi-finalist not to top their group.

Despite the best efforts of Shane Walsh and Luke Kelly in attack it showed, especially in a drab second half when the Baconstown-Enfield side managed just three points. The third of which came in the fourth minute of added time.

Six second-half wides undermined Na Fianna hopes of making a better impact on the scoreboard.

Time crawled in the second thirty minutes that was enlivened by some top notch scores, such as Daithi McGowan's 40th minute free. Bryan McMahon's solo goal in the 56th minute was another.

That score was notable because it was the only one registered when Ratoath were down to 14-men following sub Padraig Byrne's 48th minute black card.

That Na Fianna didn't score during his absence is an indication that the chance a third final place in ten years was gone from them.

Seven different players scored for Ratoath while Shane Walsh was the only Na Fianna player to raise more than one flag.

Backed by the breeze, Na Fianna opened on the front foot. The sides were tied twice in the opening 14 minutes.

The third time the scores were level was after Cian Rogers' goal. Despite being somewhat erratic in front of goal, Ratoath pushed on.

Jack Flynn's brilliantly struck 45 into the old swimming pool end edged Ratoath for the first time. Michael Farley's intervention to block Bobby O'Brien's shot led to the award.

Ratoath controlled the remainder of the half which was highlighted by their second goal.  Eamon Wallace and Bryan McMahon created the opening for Bobby O'Brien to net.

The scoreboard read 2-5 to 0-6 at half-time with Ratoath looking set for a first final place since 2020 with an SHC-SFC double also in their sights.

Scorers: Ratoath - Cian Rogers 1-2; Bryan McMahon 1-1 (0-1); Daithi McGowan 0-4 (1f); Bobby O'Brien 1-0; Cian Rogers 0-2; Eamon Wallace 0-1; Keith McCabe 0-1.

Na Fianna - Shane Walsh 0-3 (2fs); Sean Rafferty 0-1; Luke Kelly 0-1 (mark); Mark Slevin 0-1; Ethan Devine 0-1; Jamie Queeney 0-1; Oisin McCloskey 0-1.

Ratoath - Dara McPartlin; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Conor McGill (c), Ben Wyer; Ben McGowan, Andy Gerrard, Gavin McGowan; Daithi McGowan, Jack Flynn; Cian Rogers, Keith McCabe, Conor Rooney; Eamon Wallace, Bryan McMahon, Bobby O'Brien. Subs - Brian Daly for Gerrard (36), Cian O'Brien for Rooney (41), Padraig Byrne for B O'Brien (45), Liam Kelly for Wyer (54), Harry Dalchan for Rogers (54).

Na Fianna -Shane Geraghty; Johnny Baldwin, Michael Farley, Michael Collins; Sean Rafferty, Sean Martin, James Geagan; Owen McDonnell, Jamie Queeney; Oisin McCloskey, Conor Downey, Ethan Devine; Dan Queeney, Luke Kelly, Shane Walsh. Subs - Oran Smullen for Baldwin (ht), Sean McDonnell for Farley (ht), Dean Hosey for McCloskey (41), Dan Queeney for Slevin (52), Paul Kennedy for Geagan (52)

Referee - David Gough (Slane)

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