Ratoath 1-12
Gaeil Colmcille 2-7

For the second year in a row, Ratoath's intermediate hurlers reached the knock-out stages of the championship with a victory over Gaeil Colmcille that was more convincing than the final scoreline suggested.

It meant that Ratoath progress from Group A with a final round game against Na Fianna to come. And it was sweet revenge too for last year's round-robin hammering by the Kells outfit who this time were dumped out of contention.

With the club's junior side also making the play-offs for the first time, it was a defining weekend all round.

And it came on the back of some top quality individual displays. Paddy Dowd was outstanding in a full-back line that was rock solid while Darragh Kelly powered into the second half in a hard-working half-back line.

Up front Paddy Coady rolled back the years with four points from play while Gavin McGowan got the early goal that set Ratoath on the right road.

That helped Ratoath into a 1-7 to 1-3 half-time lead and it really should have been more with Conor McGill a powerful, physical presence around the middle and forming a solid partnership with Ciaran O'Hanrahan. With Bobby O'Brien and Sean O'Hanrahan causing plenty of problems up front and Podge O'Hanrahan and Jack McGowan keeping the
pressure on, Ratoath stretched their lead to seven points at one stage before the Kells side staged a mini revival. A late penalty was too little too late though, leaving Ratoath looking forward to the play-offs once more.

Ratoath: Gearoid Crowley; Paddy Dowd, Paul Kirwan, Neil O'Dowd; Conor Ward, Darragh Kelly, Ben McGowan; Conor McGill, Ciaran O'Hanrahan; Jack McGowan, Paddy Coady, Bobby O'Brien; Podge O'Hanrahan, Gavin McGowan, Sean O'Hanrahan. Subs: Ger Clarke for Conor Ward; Kevin Laffey for Gavin McGowan.

Scorers: G McGowan 1-2, P Coady 0-4, P O'Hanrahan 0-3 (3fs), S O'Hanrahan 0-2, D Kelly 0-1 (1 65)

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