Loughcrew Geals Gaeil Colmcille 0-17 Ratoath 3-7

It was a windy morning the last time these two sides met five weeks ago in Ratoath and it was the same with the return fixture in Grangegodden. Ratoath were missing a few key players in the original fixture so a much stiffer test was expected this time around and that’s exactly what played out.

Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille choose to play with the wind in the first half and despite a very well organised and tight Ratoath defence they got off to a bright start with the opening two points one from play (Fergal Flynn) and the second a nicely struck 65’ from Andrew Gormely. That seemed to spark life into the Ratoath attack as they put ferocious pressure on the Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille forcing two goals from play in a space of five minutes something that need addressing before the final next Sunday.  

The home team to their credit didn’t panic, they kept their shape got to work for the middle third of this match scoring five of the last six points in the first half leaving them just the single point down at half time with a scoreline of 0-7 to 2-2.

With the wind in their backs, you expected Ratoath to have their purple patch but that never really came about which was probably down to the home team upping their work rate. The forwards started to play like backs, the way they needed to when its back to the wall and when you have a centre back like Daire Shine on your side you could see why this young man was awarded Meath Young Hurler of the Year for 2024. Shine was immense his work rate and honesty set the tone for his team and the rest of them duly followed. 

A goal midway through the second half got Ratoath’s noses back in front but Loughcrew Gaels Gaeil Colmcille kept tacking on the points with Fergal Flynn and Shine when needed. This match had all the signs of a draws as frees seemed to come easily. Ratoath converted two late frees to leave it as a draw match going into extra time until an unlikely winner came from the football man Hughie Corcoran who must have been practicing because this was no fluke with an excellent point from play to put the home sides into a final on Sunday the 8th of December in Trim at 11.30am.

Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille: Conal McGovern, Conor Rennicks, Jack Connell, Tadhg Dardis, Eoghan Flynn, Daire Shine (0-7)[5f &2 65], Cormac O’Reilly, Eoin Briody, John Gormley (0-1), Hughie Corcoran (0-1), Fergal Flynn (0-3), Oisin O’Reilly, Andrew Gormley (0-2 [1f &1 65], James McDonnell, Darren O’Higgins (0-2)

Subs: Oisin O’Reilly for Andrew Gormely (14 mis), Louis Finnegan for Hugh Corcoran (half time), Matthew Farrelly for John Gormley (41 mins), Hugh Corcoran for Darren O’Higgins (50 mins)   

 

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