RATOATH 1-9  SLANE 1-5

A MASSIVE weekend for Ratoath got off to a near perfect start when the club’s second string saw off the challenge of Slane in a hard fought JBFC semi-final at Skryne on Saturday evening.

A remarkable achievement for the winners considering they were playing Junior C 12 months ago. 

For Slane it was a case of so near and yet so far. Last years finalists and beaten semi-finalists for the three years prior to that made a promising start to proceedings and led 1-3 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter. That they only managed two further points is an indication where it went wrong for Kit Henry’s side.

Defences had the edge for long spells in the difficult conditions but Ratoath produced a much improved second half display and their mainly youthful outfit had too much power and precision.

The loss of influential midfielder Alan Harding to a foot injury proved a big blow for the Slane men. Harding didn’t appear for the second half and Slane struggled badly in his absence.

Substitutes played a crucial role for Ratoath with Eoghan McMahon who came on at the start of the second half converting four frees when scores were difficult to come by. Another sub Nathan Dunne hit a crucial point from play near the finish.

Tiarnan Ahearne pointed Ratoath ahead on three minutes but that was the only time they led in the opening half. 

Keeper Darren Berrill opened Slane’s account from a ’45 and Alan Harding then shot the lead point on nine minutes.

The Slane goal came courtesy of Conor Rock who pounced on a rebound after Ratoath keeper Darragh McPartlin had thwarted Podge McGowan’s close range effort.

McGowan then pointed in fine style from long range to extend his side’s lead.

With less than five minutes of the half remaining Sean Johnson pointed for Ratoath and on the stroke of half-time they received a further boost when a long range free from Jack Flynn deceived the Slane defence and ended in the net to leave the minimum between the teams at the break, Slane ahead 1-3 to 1-2.

McMahon’s opened his account within a minute of the restart and two further points from the substitute had Ratoath leading 1-5 to 1-3. Garret Quigley was dominated around midfield at that stage while Padraic Byrne, Flynn and Johnson were beginning to find space previously denied them.

Flynn added another point before McGowan, who fought a lone battle for Slane in attack throughout the second half replied at the other end.

Johnson was denied a goal by a brilliant save from keeper Berrill on 24 minutes but Ratoath continued to enjoy the greater share of possession and points from Nathan Dunne and John Walsh had them four clear by the 57th minute.

McGowan accounted for Slane’s second point of the half before McMahon made certain of victory with his fourth point deep into added time to set up a final meeting with Kilbride.

RATOATH – Darragh McPartlin; Gavin Eiffe, Michael John Lavin, Ryan Kelly; Andrew Gerrard, Brian Daly, John Walsh 0-1; Peter Barry, Garret Quigley; Paul Flaherty, Jack Flynn 1-1 (1-0 f), Padraic Byrne; Tiarnan Ahearne 0-1, Tom Fadden, Sean Johnson 0-1. Subs: Eoghan McMahon 0-4fs for Flaherty (h-t), Nathan Dunne 0-1 for Barry (52), Conor O’Sullivan for Johnson (60).

SLANE – Darren Berrill 0-1 ’45; Shane Harding, Eoin Gibbs, Rory Finnegan, Sean Martyn, Francis Marry, Eoin Feeley; Jim Marry, Alan Harding 0-1; Conor Rock 1-0, Eanna Mooney, Kevin Reilly; Podge McGowan 0-3, Matthew Tully, Barry Carolan. Subs – Peter Martyn for A Harding (h-t), Sean Murray for Carolan (39), Daniel Carolan for Tully (47), Aaron Lane for S Harding (52), Jake Tallon for Reilly (53).

Referee – Andrew Lenehan (St Patrick’s)

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