Ratoath reigned in the wind and srain at Pairc Tailteann to overcome Kilmessan in the 2020 JHC final on Saturday evening. To view photos click here

Ratoath ....... 2-11 Kilmessan .... 1-11

Ratoath's second string side made the most of wind advantage in the second-half to outscore Kilmessan by 2-7 to 1-4 after the change of ends.

Kilmessan hopes seemed to have evaporated with Brian Moore's 59th minute goal.that left Ratoath five points clear.

Kilmessan rallied and were rewarded when sub Kevin O'Reilly netted from Ger O'Neill's cross. Seconds later Kilmessan had claims for a penalty denied after O'Neill appeared to have been fouled.

It was left to Ratoath captain Robert Small to close the scoring from a 65 in the fifth minute of added time, before capping the occasion with well-delivered words.

A three-point interval deficit didn't deter Michael Brazil's men. With wind advantage to come Ratoath were well placed to prevail

The turning point came four minutes after resumption when Shane McGoldrick deflected Luke Farrell's delivery to the net at the town goal.

Ratoath were ahead for the first time, 1-5 to 0-7, and they maintained their lead to the finish.

With Damien O'Meara leading the way from placed balls, Ratoath moved four clear by the 42nd minute. The number 15 finished with six points to his credt

Kilmessan's top scorer Kyle Smith, with eight points, pulled back a point from a free to trail by 0-8 to 1-8, at the second water break.

Points from Sean Keogh and Stephen Cooper moved Ratoath five points ahead by the 48th minute.

Ratoath might have won by a wider margin if they had been less wasteful. Kilmessan 'netminder Conor Gorman pointed a 65 to trim the deficit to just two with 58 minutes gone. 

The exciting finale followed with Ratoath holding on for a merited success.

The first-half was closely contested with the sides tied on three occasions. Kilmessan were never headed during the opening 30 minutes. Kyle Smith opened the scoring in the first minute. By half-time he had six points to his name, all bar one from frees.

Mark Munnelly was Kilmessan's other first-half scorer, a magnificent effort from the stand side, close to the sideline. That regained the lead for the side in royal blue. Two more pointed frees from Smith left his side 0-7 to 0-4 ahead at the break.s

Scorers: Kilmessan - Kyle Smith 0-8 (7fs); Kevin O'Reilly 1-0; Paul O'Brien, Mark Munnelly, Conor Gorman 0-1 each.

Ratoath -  Damien O'Meara 0-6 fs; Shane McGoldrick, Brian Moore 1-0; Stephen Cooper 0-2; Sean Keogh, Toirdleac O'Neill, Robert Small (65) 0-1 each.

Ratoath - Colm O'Riordan; Sean Brazil, Sean Murphy, Sam Coughlan; Pierce Butler, Robert Small (C), James McCann; Luke Farrell, Sean Keogh;Tadhg McCann, Stephen Cooper, Brian Moore; Shane McGoldrick, Toirdleac O Neill, Damien O'Meara. Subs - Adam Whelan for McCann (39), Kieran Stokes for O'Neill (40), Paul Kirwan for McCann (49), Sean Laffey for McGoldrick (58).

Kilmessan - Conor Gorman; Padraig Maguire, Mark Munnelly, Richard Donnelly (C); Martin Horan, Paul O'Brien, David Hackett; Paul O'Brien, Danny Thynne ; Eoin Jack Keoghan, Kyle Smith, Aidan Mangan; Cian Maguire, Charles Keena, Ger O'Neill. Subs - Kevin O'Reilly for Keoghan (23), Fionn Maguire for Keena (ht).

Referee - Niall Burke (Na Fianna)

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