INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP - GROUP A
DATE: Friday, June 26
VENUE: Ratoath
RATOATH INTER HURLERS MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO
Ratoath 1-18 St Pat's 2-6
A workmanlike performance saw Ratoath keep up their 100 per cent record in the intermediate hurling championship against a game St Pat's outfit.
This was a slow burner of a contest with scores at a premium in the opening quarter when Ratoath's opening points from Kevin Laffey and Sean Keogh were cancelled out by two frees by the visitors.
Sean McCann and Ben McGowan were especially prominent in a defence that had to deal with plenty of route one ball and there was a touch of good fortune about the two St Pat's goals in the run up to half-time.
Ratoath showed a lot of character to take those two blows in their stride, Paddy Coady blasting a shot to the net in response and adding a point for good measure.
Further scores from Kevin Laffey and Sean O'Hanrahan helped Ratoath into a 1-7 to 2-3 lead at the break and the home side upped it a couple of gears in the second half.
Jack McGowan and Podge O'Hanrahan in particular picked off some lovely points from play from a variety of angles as Ratoath held St Pat's scoreless for the guts of 20 minutes.
Bobby O'Brien blazed over the bar and Ciaran O'Hanrahan finished off a quality move as Ratoath eased ahead and finished nine points to the good.
Next up is a third round clash with Clann na Gael.
Ratoath: Gearoid Crowley; Toirdealhac O'Neill, Paul Kirwan, Sean McCann; Ben McGowan, Neil O'Dowd, Conor Ward; Jack McGowan, Ger Clarke;
Sean O'Hanrahan, Paddy Coady, Ciaran O'Hanrahan; Sean Keogh, Podge O'Hanrahan, Kevin Laffey. Subs: Bobby O'Brien for Ger Clarke, Ger Brennan for Paddy Coady
Scorers: P O'Hanrahan 0-6 (2fs), P Coady 1-1, J McGowan 0-3, Sean Keogh 0-2, K Laffey 0-2, S O'Hanrahan 0-2, B O'Brien 0-1, C O'Hanrahan 0-1