Navan O’Mahony’s 2-08 Ratoath 0-18

A late Navan O’Mahony’s surge fell just short of claiming the Delaney Cup in the Minor Div 1 final, played in the excellent settings of Ashbourne GAA, with a huge crowd in attendance.

Ratoath were quick off the mark with a point within sixty seconds of throw-in. A minute later, Adam McEvoy opened the scoring for his side with a fisted point. Ratoath edged ahead again with a point in the fourth minute. Ten minutes passed without score until midfielder Bobby Gaffney kicked an impressive score to draw level again. 

Ratoath pointed from a free, which bounced over the bar. Daniel Joseph fought hard for possession at the other end of the pitch, winning and sending across the square to the waiting Rían Porter who palmed the ball over the bar.  Ratoath then hit two points, one from play and one from a free. Luke Casey won possession heading towards goal but was blocked down by impressive play from the Ratoath defence. From this, Ratoath pointed at the opposite end of the pitch. 

Approaching the end of the game, Ratoath kicked another three points to extend their lead to six points. On the cusp of half time, McEvoy won possession fifteen yards from goal and did well to pick out Porter, who found the net to leave three between the sides at the break

Navan O’Mahony’s 1-03 Ratoath 0-09

Quick off the blocks in the second half, Ratoath pointe within the opening fifteen seconds to extend their lead to four points. This was reduced to a single score once again with a Cormac Nugent free.

Ratoath then enjoyed their best period, kicking five points in an eight minute period to put some distance between the sides. With fifteen minutes remaining, eight points separated the sides.

To Navan O’Mahony’s credit, they showed great heart and spirit and did not give up. Led by Luke Maguire, Diarmuid O Bric and Brian Hughes Magennis at the back, the lads kicked on to play their best football of the match. 

Three frees in a row from Nugent reduced the deficit to five. With eight minutes to go, McEvoy showed great strength to sweep through the Ratoath defence and rattle the net. This left two points between the sides.

Five minutes later, a Porter free left a single point between the sides with both supporters urging their respective teams on. Try as they might, O’Mahony’s couldn’t get the score they desperately needed and it was Ratoath who raised the next flag.

By the thirty minute mark, they had extended the lead to three points. A number of high balls into the square were cleared to safety by the Ratoath defence and a point late into injury time sealed the deal for Ratoath. 

As well as those already mentioned, Euan Kerr, Bobby Gaffney, Michael Byrne and Seb Snow impressed for O’Mahony’s while Paddy Yourell and Hugh Clarke Carolan were on form around the middle of the pitch. Substitutes Oisin Finnegan, Dan Carolan and Jamie Daly Peters all played a role when they entered play. 

Navan O’Mahony’s: Jamie O’Reilly, Luke Maguire, Diarmuid O Bric, Brian Hughes Magennis, Euan Kerr, Michael Byrne, Seb Snow, Paddy Yourell, Bobby Gaffney (0-01), Hugh Clarke Carolan, Cormac Nugent (0-04), Luke Casey, Adam McEvoy (1-01), Rían Porter (1-02), Daniel Joseph

Subs: Oisin Finnegan for Clarke Carolan, Dan Carolan for Kerr, Jamie Daly Peters for Casey 

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