Eamon Wallace led from the sweeper role as Ratoath claimed the SFC for the third time in four years with a minimum margin win over Summerhill at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. PHOTOS

Ratoath .............. 0-12
Summerhill ......... 0-11

David Brady's men made most of the running and kept a spirited Summerhill at bay in the latter stages.

At times the match had the feel of chess about it, with both sides employing a patient build up to fashion scores.

Opting for the slow route didn't seem to suit Summerhill who conceeded four points on the bounce in the run up to half time.

Though listed at centre-half-back, Eamon Wallace got two of those scores, helping his side to a 0-8 to 0-5 interval advantage.

Within ten minutes of resumption, Summerhill had the margin down to the narrowest. When wing back and team captain Padhraig Geraghty pointed the scores for third and final time.

The pendulum swung Ratoath's way again. A trio of points from Daithi McGowan (free), Jack Flynn and Eamon Wallace lift it 0-12 to 0-9 in the 53rd minute.

Joey Wallace's 15-minute appearance was halted by another injury to the man who netted the late winner in the 2020 final.

Summerhill pushed on in their bid to regain parity while Diarmuid McCabe was off target with a 59th minute goal attempt. A goal here would have levelled matters.

The 'Hill posted the last two points of the game but couldn't get the one that would have forced extra time or maybe snatched a dramatic winner.

There was a regretable incident in stoppage time that saw both managers sent off. In refering to it at the presentation Meath GAA chairman John Kavanagh acknowleged it but pointed out that it will be dealt with later.

There was further joy for Ratoath when Jack Flynn picked up the Colum Cromwell man-of-the-match award though Eamon Wallace was a major contender.

Conor Gillespie's side opened the scoring through Eoghan Frayne's eighth minute point. It was the only time the 'Hill were in front.

Ratoath responded by laying the foundations for sucess. They were 0-4 to 0-1 ahead midway through the half.

To their credit Summerhill's reply saw them gain parity through Conor Lyons' 24th minute free.

Scorers: Ratoath - Daithi McGowan 0-4 (3fs); Eamon Wallace 0-3; Bryan McMahon 0-2 (1f); Bobby O'Brien 0-1 (mark); Jack Flynn 0-1;  Cian Rogers 0-1;

Summerhill - Eoghan Frayne 0-4 (2fs); Barry Dardis 0-2 (fs); Conor Frayne 0-1; Diarmuid McCabe 0-1 (f); David Larkin 0-1; Padhraig Geraghty 0-1; Eamonn McDonnell 0-1.

Ratoath - Dara McPartlin; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Conor McGill (c), Ben Wyer; Brian Daly, Eamon Wallace, Gavin McGowan; Daithi McGowan, Ben McGowan; Cian Rogers, Jack Flynn, Keith McCabe; Conor Rooney, Bryan McMahon, Bobby O'Brien. Subs - Joey Wallace for B O'Brien (41), Cian O'Brien for Rooney (45), Padraig Byrne for J Wallace (58).

Summerhill - Tony McDonnell; Padraig Jennings, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle; Padhraig Geraghty (c), Ross Ryan, Adam McDonnell; Micheal Byrne, Adam Flanagan; David Larkin, Diarmuid McCabe, Kevin Ryan; Conor Frayne, Conor Lyons, Eoghan Frayne. Subs - Barry Dardis for C Lyons (ht), Eamonn McDonnell for Dardis (35), William Ryan for A McDonnell (54), 

Referee - Cormac Reilly (St Mary's)

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