Ratoath 6-12 Navan OMahony’s 1-05

Ratoath sent out a real message of intent as they powered their way into this years Premier Division 2 final. Despite finishing top of the group, Ratoath had to give up home advantage as the original date for the game clashed with a previously booked camaoige match and left them with no available pitch. 

This however made little difference as Ratoaths second string put in a dominating performance on the night and eased to a 22-point victory, despite going behind to an early Navan goal and taking their time in getting going. A long hopeful ball into the Ratoath full back line appeared to be under control, however an awkward bounce managed to loop over the defender’s head and was collected by the Navan corner forward who raced in on goal and buried his shot past Cian O Farrell in the Ratoath goal. Navan added a free moments later, however this was to be their last score of the entire first half as Ratoath controlled the game and the ball for most of the remaining time. Harry Dalchan got his team off the mark with a nice point from played, followed moments later by captain Brian Daly, who added a second to his personal tally before Tiarnan Ahearn levelled things up just before the water break. Ratoath only managed another four scores for the remainder of the half, due in part from some good Navan defending but mostly from Ratoaths continued insistence on taking the ball into the tackle or launching long high ball into their forward line which the O Mahoneys defence got a hand to almost every time. However, vitally for Ratoath two of those scores were goals, scored by top scorer on the night Eoghan McMahon who had kicked the opening point of the quarter and Harry Dalchan who was left one v one for his finish after an excellent dummy allowing the ball intended for him to run past to his unmarked team mate. Sean Mohan kicked the other point of the half leaving the score 2-06 to 1-01 at half time. 

In the second half Ratoath reverted back to their normal running game. Their slick hand passing and superior fitness completely blew the Navan men aside and their first three scores of the second half were goals to completely end this game as a contest. McMahon bagged two of those goals, the second of which came from the penalty spot to seal the hattrick after he sent the keeper the wrong way. Sandwiched in between these scores was a goal for Tiarnan Ahearn. A series of one two passes starting on his own 45m line saw Ratoath corner back Darragh McGill through one on one with the keeper, however much to most onlooker’s surprise (and relief we might add) he elected not to shoot himself and popped a neat little hand pass to his left-hand side leaving Ahearn with the simple task of palming the ball into the empty net. Navan did add another point to their tally which was cancelled out by a score kicked from John Walsh. Ratoath were able to run in a number of subs in this game thanks to their dominating performance, however this did not weaken or slow them down in anyway. Ratoaths first score of the final quarter was their final goal scored by Leigh Sulliven after a great defence splitting pass put him in and he calmly slotted the ball into the corner. Emmett Boyle made his return to the pitch after a number of months on the side-line putting in an assured display at wing back, and his driving runs forward were able to open up space for fellow subs Leigh Sullivan and Sean Johnson, as well as midfielder Cian Smyth kick over a point each to cancel out the points kicked by the men from Navan who to their credit never gave up and kept looking for scores until the final whistle. In truth Ratoath can again thank their defenders for not allowing the Navan forwards an inch of space, in particular Cormac Butler at full back who’s fist seemed like it had a magnet attracting it to the size 5 O Neills being kicked around Navan on Tuesday night. 

Ratoath can now look forward to a final against Summerhill, the only team to beat them this year in the group game earlier this year. This game will be played on Sunday 24th at 1:30pm, as the curtain raiser to the Senior teams semi-final against Wolfe Tones.

Ratoath scorers: Eoghan McMahon 3-02, Harry Dalchan 1-02, Tiarnan Ahearn 1-01, Leigh Sullivan 1-01, Brian Daly 0-03, John Walsh 0-01, Sean Johnson 0-01, Cian Smyth 0-01

Ratoath: Cian O Farrell, Peter Barry, Cormac Butler, Darragh McGill, Adam Whelan, Gareth Rooney, John Walsh, Cian Kelly, Cian Smyth, Sean Mohan, Brian Daly, Harry Dalchan, Eoghan McMahon, Mark Daly, Tiarnan Ahearn

Subs: Ryan Kelly for Peter Barry, Emmet Boyle for Sean Mohan, Leigh Sullivan for Eoghan McMcMahon, Sean Johnson for Tiarnan Ahearn

Tweet

Most Read Stories