Ratoath 1-17 Na Fianna 0-08

Round 5 of this years Feis Cup saw Ratoath register their first home win of the year and record back-to-back wins for the first time as well, boosting their slim chances of making the semi-finals of this year’s competition.

The home side got off to a flier, winning the throw up and setting Andy Gerard away down the wing, he managed to work the back quickly into the inside forwards where Tom Fadden was on hand to slot the ball over the bar inside the first 30seconds. The resulting kickout was then won by Ratoath and Pauric Byrne added another point to leave the home side up by 0-02 inside the first minute. Ratoath continued to dominate the opening exchanges and despite Na Fianna getting the first point after 7seven minutes, the home side added on two more before the water break, Cian Rogers getting both, one from play and then a placed ball to leave Ratoath ahead by 0-04 to 0-01. 

After the water break however Na Fianna seemed to wake themselves up a bit and between some clinical shooting from themselves and some wasteful passing and shooting from Ratoath they were back to within a point by half time, kicking three points from play and one from a dead ball, compared with Cian Rogers kicking the solitary point for Ratoath before half time to ensure they maintained their lead 0-06 to 0-05.

At the break Ratoath made to changes with Jack and Daithi McGowan coming on for Adam Whealan and Sean Johnson. These changes along with whatever Brian Farrell said in his team talk seemed to really get the home side back in the groove and they kicked four unanswered points in the opening five minutes to open up a five-point lead, Daithi McGowan kicking two, Cian Rogers and Tom Fadden notching up the others. Na Fianna did manage to kick the last score before the water break from a free to leave the scores 0-10 to 0-05. Unlike the first half however it was Ratoath who started the final quarter the brighter with Tom Fadden and Keith McCabe both kicking points from play in the opening two attacks. Na Fianna did respond with two points of their own a few minutes later but these were to be the last scores of the game that they would get as Ratoath dominated the ball and the remaining ten minutes. In this period, they managed to kick 1-05 from play without response with the likes of Keith McCabe and Ben McGowan dominating the opposition kickout and the Ratoath full back line taking care of any balls that managed to slip through. The final points were kicked by Cian Rogers 2, Pauric Byrne, Jack McGowan and Keith McCabe, and the goal coming from Cian Rogers following a very well worked team move which showed great patience in moving the ball across a packed NaFianna defence before piercing a hole and bursting through.

Ratoath now look forward to an away game against Wolfe Tones next Wednesday knowing that nothing but a win will do if they wish to proceed in the competition.

Ratoath: Darragh McPartlin, Ciaran O Fearraigh, Darragh McGill, Adnrew Gerard, Ben Wyer, Adam Whealan, Ben McGowan, Keith McCabe (0-02), Brian O Connor, Cian O Brien, Pauric Byrne (0-02), Tom Fadden (0-03), Cian Rogers (1-07, 0-03 f’s), Sean Johnson.

Subs: Jack McGowan (0-01) for Adam Whealan (30mins), Daithi McGowan (0-02, 0-01 f’s) for Sean Johnson (30mins), Harry Dalchan for Tom Fadden (53mins), Ryan Lacey for Cian O Brien (54mins)

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