Hot favourites Ratoath came away from Pairc Tailteann with a facile victory over Rathkenny in this Fairyhouse Steel sponsored Meath Senior Football Championship Group D Round Three game played last Sunday evening, September 8th. 

Rathkenny 0-11 Ratoath 8-19

Last year’s beaten finalists stormed out of the blocks with a point after 48 seconds from Cian Rogers. He followed this up with a major with less than two minutes on the clock. With under four minutes played, the lead was extended to five points when Padraic Byrne sent over from play. Rathkenny popped over their first score from a David Curtis free on six minutes. From the resultant kickout Rathkenny turned over possession and Keith Curtis sent over his first of the evening. Daithí McGowan added Ratoath’s third point of the evening before Charlie Cullen saved from a Ratoath attack. Rathkenny then had a blocked shot from Max McKenna that Daniel Gavagan attempted to flick past the Ratoath netminder who reacted smartly to save. Keith Curtis sent over on ten minutes for Rathkennys third point. Charlie Cullen produced another good save for Rathkenny as he sent a ball out for a 45. Jack Flynn sent over the subsequent 45 and Ratoath were up by four with twelve minutes on the clock. Keith Curtis sent over Rathkennys fourth point from a 14th minute free. Ratoath’s Conor Rooney popped over his sides fifth point as the first quarter showed a four-point gap between the sides.

Keith Curtis sent over his fourth score of the day with a close in free. Ratoath extended the lead through Cian Rogers on 17 minutes, before Keith Curtis reduced the lead once more with a free. Ratoath’s Padraic Byrne made it 1-7 to 0-6, before Rathkenny half forward Daniel Gavagan sent over a great score from 45 metres out on the right near the terrace to reduce the gap back to three with eight minutes left of the half. Centre forward Glen O’Reilly made it a four-point game once again before Cian Rogers found the net for Ratoath ninety seconds later and the gap was out to seven points. Keith Curtis sent over his sixth score of the half from a free with four minutes remaining in the half. In those remaining minutes Charlie Cullen produced another great save, this time from Jack Flynn, before Eamon Wallace and Daithí McGowan sent over to leave it 2-10 to 0-08 when referee Padraic Coyle blew for the break. 

Rathkennys chief scorer Keith Curtis reduced the arrears two minutes into the resumption from play before a blitz of 2-3 from Ratoath as much as ended this as a contest. A Jack Flynn point was followed by one from Conor Rooney before Rooney then Flynn both found the net. Daithí McGowan adding the next point and the lead had now been stretched to 16. Keith Curtis added his eight point of the day from a free before finishing his and Rathkennys account with a point from play on 42 minutes. Ratoath then went on a scoring spree when adding 4-6 in the final 17 minutes. Cian O’Brien, Cian Rogers, Daithí McGowan, Conor Rooney with the goals and Cian Rogers, Jack Flynn (2), Padraic Byrne, Eamon Wallace and substitute Bobby O’Brien with the points.

Following the draw for the Quarter final pairings Ratoath will play Dunshaughlin while Rathkenny will face Na Fianna in the relegation playoffs.

Rathkenny – Charlie Cullen; Sean O’Hare, Adam Byrne, Corbin Jenkinson; James O’Hare, Mark Byrne, Padraig McKeever; Max McKenna, Oisin Cummins Fuller; Ciaran O’Hare, Daniel Gavagan (0-1), Christy Meade; David Curtis (0-1, free), Keith Curtis (0-9, 5 frees), Noah Jenkinson.

Subs – Niall Branigan for Corbin Jenkinson (h/t), Joey Curtis for Daniel Gavagan (36), Brian Meade for Christy Meade (41), Aaron Johnson for Mark Byrne (48)

Ratoath – Cian O’Farrell; Padraic Byrne (0-3), Ben Wyer, Sean Brazil; Brian Daly, Conor McGill, Liam Kelly; Jack Flynn (1-4), Cian O’Brien (1-0); Daithí McGowan (1-3), Glen O’Reilly (0-1), Eamon Wallace (0-2); Conor Rooney (2-2), Bryan McMahon, Cian Rogers (3-3)

Subs – Bobby O’Brien (0-1)

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