As they prepare for today's county final HS carried this report from the round 3 clash in August as Kildalkey had five points to spare over Ratoath at Pairc Tailteann.

Paddy Conneely was the scorer-in-chief as Kildalkey saw off resilient Ratoath in this round three clash at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday morning.

Kildalkey …… 1-18
Ratoath …… 1-13

Conneely put 1-10 to his name as his side remain in contention for the direct route for a last four spot.

To their credit, Ratoath kept Kildalkey in their sights until Nick Fitzgerald’s side put some distance between the teams in the middle third of the the second-half. 

Kildalkey were the more economical team, totally just five wides over the hour in contrast to Ratoath’s 13. Eight of those were registered in the first 30 minutes.

Kildalkey were superior when it came to possession retention. It was central to their third win of the campaign following successes at the expense of Na Fianna and Kiltale.

This was understrength Ratoath’s second defeat so far, following a win over Killyon and a setback against Kiltale.

The scores were tied twice in the first half and again following an O’Hanrahan 35th minute free, 1-8-all

Paddy Conneely’s fifth minute goal earned Kildalkey an early advantage.

Nicky Potterton’s 21st minute point moved the men in royal blue jerseys five points clear, 1-5 0-3.

Ratoath were the more wasteful side in the first, chalking up eight wides to Kildalkey’s three.

Ratoath enjoyed a fruitful spell in the run-up to half-time. Three points on the bounce - Ciaran O’Hanrahan (two) and Daithi McGowan got last year’s runners-up back on level terms.

That Ratoath sequence was started by Sean Corbett’s 25th minute goal, that got the team in mostly white to within two points of Kildalkey. A Conneely pointed free briefly broke that run of scores.

In stoppage time a Paddy Conneely free earned Kildalkey a minimum margin interval advantage, 1-7 to 1-6.

Ratoath were back on terms within five minutes of resumption, courtesy of another O’Hanrahan free to leave it 1-8-each. However, finding scores harder to come by, they were chasing the game to the end.

In hindsight, Conneely’s next score proved crucial. It gave Kildalkey a lead they took to the finish. Points from play in quick succession courtesy of Conneely and Nicky Potterton in the 39h minute saw the team in royal blue move three clear.

By the mid-point of the half, Kildalkey were five ahead with Martin Healy’s point being the stand out score of this phase of the game.

Conneely’s fine 50th minute effort from play was central to staving off Ratoath attempts at salvaging something from this fixture. Deep into stoppage time the team who are normally clad in blue and gold lost sub Bobby O’Brien to a second yellow card.

Next - Ratoath v Na Fianna, 1.15, Sun Aug 20, Pairc Tailteann;Kildalkey v Trim, 3.15, Sun Aug 20, Pairc Tailteann

Scorers: Kildalkey - Paddy Conneely 1-10 (0-6fs); Nicky Potterton 0-4; Brian O'Halloran 0-1; Paddy Potterton 0-1; Martin Healy 0-1; Kevin McKeon 0-1.

Ratoath - Ratoath - Padraig O'Hanrahan 0-7 (0-4 fs, 1 65); Sean Corbett 1-0; Daithi McGowan 0-2; Ciaran O'Hanrahan 0-2; Sean Murphy 0-1; Padraig Byrne 0-1.

Kildalkey - David Harmon; David Conneely (c),Brian Coffey, Brendan McKeon; Conor Fitzgerald, Brian O'Halloran, Brin Kelly; Evan Fitzgerald, Martin Healy; Paddy Barnwell, Gary Kelly, Paddy Conneely; Paddy Potterton, Nicky Potterton, Brian Conneely. Subs - Kevin McKeon for Conor Fitzgerald (30 + 1), Mark Healy for B Conneely (49), Mark McCormack for D Conneely (56).

Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Domhnall Rogers, Liam Corbett, Sean Murphy; Conor Ward, Ben McGowan, Niall McLarnon; Padraig O'Hanrahan, Padraig Byrne; David McGowan, Jack McGowan, Tom Fadden; Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Sean Corbett, Bobby O'Brien. Subs - Cathal Sherlock for McLarnon (22), Liam Kelly for S Corbett (51), Padraig Byrne for Sherlock (51).

Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna)

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