St Peter's Dunboyne  1-10  Ratoath  2-6

Dunboyne held off a tremendous Ratoath fightback to win a thrilling Under-16 Division One Summer League final at Pairc Tailteann.
Astonishingly, Ratoath recovered from an 11-point half-time deficit to level matters with eight minutes to go before a late Daragh Nolan free decided it in Dunboyne's favour.

It was one-way traffic for Dunboyne in the first half. Nolan's pace, elusiveness and accurate distribution caused endless problems for Ratoath, providing a steady stream of possession to pacey inside forwards Michael Murphy and Daragh Gilmartin. Each scored two points and Murphy got Dunboyne's goal when he converted the rebound from Gilmartin's blocked effort.

With other points coming from midfielder Liam Byrne (a fine 45), lively centre forward Sean Ryan, Eoin Martin and substitute Glenn Mulvey (a lovely effort from distance) Dunboyne led by 1-8 to 0-0 at the break.

Midfielder Jack Donnelly was perhaps Dunboyne's most consistent player over the 60, with ceaseless workrate, safe hands and good option-taking.  A solid defence, well marshalled by the inspirational Daniel Comiskey and in which Pauraic Lavin made many key interceptions, had kept any danger from goalkeeper Joseph McWeeney's goal.

That was all to change on the resumption though as Ratoath upped their intensity, made key positional changes and used their bench to good effect. Towering midfielder Declan Watters was introduced and ensured possession was no longer one way.

He started the comeback with two pointed frees and with the athletic Connell Ahearne and Leigh Sullivan pushed further forward and the always dangerous Tom Fadden at full forward the tide began to turn in Ratoath's favour.

A Nolan free was a temporary respite for Dunboyne before Sullivan got a goal back  for Ratoath and when Ahearne followed suit almost immediately the game was suddenly back in the balance.

Fadden scored a superb point on the turn following a high catch and Watters levelled matters with a free to set up an incredibly tense and hard-fought finale.

In that closing ten minutes Dunboyne were indebted to the composure of captain Cian O'Connor, the tenacity of Oscar Braun who won a crucial free, and the physicality of Byrne, who helped shore up the full back line. Substitute Josh McCloskey won the free which Nolan converted to win the game.

Ratoath were driven on from midfield by the tireless Ryan Kelly, who helped curb Nolan's influence after the break, and goalkeeper David Caffrey made two crucial point blank saves in the first half when the game was in danger of getting away from them.

These two teams are due to meet in the Under-16 championship final in two weeks time and this contest did plenty to whet the appetite for that encounter with both sides able to take plenty of positives  from the game.

DUNBOYNE:  J McWeeney; O Braun, N Carolan, P Lavin; C O'Connor (capt), D Comiskey, B McBrien; J Donnelly, L Byrne,  E Cairns, S Ryan , E Martin, D Nolan , M Murphy, D Gilmartin, S. Melia, G Finnerty, P Grant, S Nealon, J McCloskey, G Mulvey, R Duggan, J Pearl, K Conway, C McGovern, C Smyth, Z Murray.

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