Ratoath came away as seven-point victors from this Feis Cup second round encounter played in Sean Eiffe Park last Thursday evening 22nd February 2024.

Ratoath 2-12 Rathkenny 2-05

The visitors opened the scoring when centre back Padraig McKeever made a strong run to point from distance on three minutes. The hosts levelled matters three minutes later and from the resultant kickout gained possession and finished to the net. They then extended the lead with three further points in the next four minutes.

Rathkenny had a great goal opportunity when Niall Brannigan found Eoghan Heavey with a defence splitting pass, but the Ratoath netminder did well to push the goal bound effort round the post. The hosts hit four wides in a row before netting once again following a turnover on a Rathkenny kickout on twenty-four minutes. Ratoath popped over two more points to lead by eleven as halftime approached. Patrick Knowles sent over the visitors second point of the evening right on halftime to leave it 2-06 to 0-02 as referee Robert Purfield blew the short whistle.

Ratoath made the game virtually safe with three quick second half points and the gap was out to thirteen points on thirty-four minutes. Rathkenny to their credit continued to battle and were rewarded when they turned over possession and Oisin Cummins Fuller was through on goal. He passed to corner forward Eoghan Heavey who dispatched to the bottom corner. Jack Gore quickly followed this up with a pointed free and Joey Curtis added another point at the three-quarter point to leave eight between the teams.

Rathkenny emptied the bench to give more valued senior minutes to this young team. Ratoath sent over the next two points. Rathkenny were rewarded with their second goal as they harried the Ratoath defence and with the netminder out of his goal, Joey Curtis slotted to the net with seven minutes left on the clock. Max McKenna then popped over a free for the visitor’s final score. Ratoath concluded the scoring in the five minutes of injury time to close out a seven-point win.

Rathkenny – Cathal McCabe; Corbin Jenkinson, Mark Byrne, Aaron Johnson; Michael Dineen, Padraig McKeever (0-1), Daithí Downey; Max McKenna (0-1), James O’Hare; Patrick Knowles (0-1), Jack Gore (0-1), Andrew Bellew; Oisin Cummins-Fuller, Niall Brannigan, Eoghan Heavey (1-0).

Subs – Joey Curtis (1-1) for Andrew Bellew (HT), Ciaran O’Hare for Michael Dineen (HT), Noah McBride for Oisin Cummins-Fuller (35), Adam Brennan for Jack Gore (43), Daniel Gavagan for Niall Brannigan (45), T J Bellew for Patrick Knowles (45), Cal Kealy for Aaron Johnson (45).

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