MFL Div 1 final: Ratoath too good for Donaghmore/Ashbourne
May 10, 2010
Ratoath celebrate their Minor League Division 1 success at Pairc Tailteann
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-5
Nine different players got off the mark as Ratoath overpowered Donaghmore/Ashbourne in the Jack Kiernan & Sons MFL Division 1 final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday evening.
Ratoath were never headed and but for some wastefulness in front of goal might have won by a wider margin.
Bobby O'Brien was the main threat in the Ratoath attack and his goal in first-half stoppage time boosted his side to a 1-3 to 0-2 interval advantage.
Ratoath lost centre-half-back Colie McCullagh to a leg injury coming up to half-time but with county minor Conor McGill a stalwart at full-back the eventual winners comfortably resisted Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
Other members of the county minor set-up, Farrell McManus and Cian O'Brien, bossed the midfield exchanges.
When McManus pointed in the 38th minute Ratoath led by six points, 1-6 to 0-3. Shortly after Donaghmore/Ashbourne corner-forward Cormac Fagan was shown a straight red card.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne were thrown a lifeline in the 49th minute when David Murtagh goaled and the defict was down to four points, 1-4 to 1-8.
Ratoath responded with four points on the spin with Bryan McMahon pointing twice and the door was firmly shut on Donaghmore/Ashbourne.
Matthew Devine closed Donaghmore/Ashbourne's account before late points from Glen Reilly and McMahon gilded a memorable evening for Ratoath.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 'keeper Sean Kent was dismissed near the end on receipt of his second yellow card of the hour.
Ratoath were never headed but Donaghmore/Ashbourne gained parity at 0-2 each before Bobby O'Brien posted 1-1 in first-half stoppage time and Ratoath never looked in danger thereafter.
Ratoath - A. Smith; P. Flood, C. McGill, B. Power; G. Eiffe, C. McCullagh, G. Reilly (0-1); F. McManus (0-1), C. O'Brien (0-3, 1 free); B. O'Brien (1-2), G. Rooney (0-1), P. Haslam (0-1); G. Jordan (0-1), P. Kennedy, B. McMahon (0-3, 2 frees). Subs - K. Gorman for McCullough (23 mins), M. Daly (0-1) for Kennedy (52 mins), M. Wiley for Flood (59 mins).
Donaghmore/Ashbourne - S. Kent; C. Walsh, K. Callaghan, M. McCabe; O. O'Donnell, S. Melia, G. Deery; D. Carey, D. Curran; C. Buckley, M. Devine (0-3, 2 frees), E. Rogers; D. Murtagh (1-0), H. Devoy, C. Fagan (0-2). Subs - C. Carton for McCabe (42 mins), M. Nugent (45 mins).
Referee - R. Morris (Blackhall Gaels). Tweet
