SFC quarter final: McGowan and O'Brien lead Ratoath to last four

Dunshaughlin's Jared Rushe with Liam Kelly Ratoath during the Meath SFC quarter final clash at Devenish Park

Ratoath 2-18 Dunshaughlin 2-16

Ratoath left it late to book their place in the Meath Senior Football Championship semi final after this thrilling encounter against Dunshaughlin at Devenish Park.

Dunshaughlin began at a blistering pace. A brace from Mathew Costello and a superb two pointer from Charlie O’Connor had the Black & Ambers 0-4 to 0-0 to the good after five minutes. The impressive Daithi McGowan, who finished with 1-9, put Ratoath on the scoreboard with two points and by the 10th minute he had his team in front with a well worked goal. With ten minutes remaining in the half the sides were level 1-4 to 0-7 before Dunshaughlin took over. Two pointers from Luke Mitchell and Conor Duke opened up a three point lead before Michell was on hand to finished to the Ratoath net after great work by Duke. Costello added to his tally and Dunshaughlin went in at the break 1-13 to 1-6 in front.

The McGowan’s Daithi (2 two pointers) and Gavin had that lead down to two before Ryan Robinson found the back of the Ratoath net. Four points separated the teams at the end of the third quarter. The introduction of seasoned campaigners Bobby O’Brien and Joey Wallace began to pay off for Kevin Daly’s men. O’Brien and Aaron Murphy traded points. McGowan made it a one goal game before O’Brien levelled matters with his teams second goal. Extra time maybe? Last year’s finalists were having none of it. Wallace put them in the lead before O’Brien added another and Ratoath were on their way to a semi final meeting with Donaghmore Ashbourne.

Ratoath scorers: Daithi McGowan 1-9, Bobby O’Brien 1-2, Gavin McGowan 0-2, Glenn O’Reilly 0-1, Liam Kelly 0-1, Cian Rogers 0-1, Adam Ducie 0-1, Joey Wallace 0-1

Dunshaughlin scorers: Mathew Costello 0-6, Luke Mitchell 1-2, Ryan Robinson 1-1, Aaron Murphy 0-2, Conor Duke 0-2, Charlie O’Connor 0-2, Jared Rushe 0-1

Referee David Gough