Ratoath 3-11 Dunshaughlin 2-10

On a cold autumn evening in Dunganny, Ratoath U21s took to the field in a replay against Dunshaughlin. Missing Daragh Kelly who was hospitalised after the first game, the lads stepped up to the challenge and put down an early marker with Gavin McGowan getting the first point in the third minute. Dunshaughlin responded in kind two minutes later and it wasn't until the eleventh minute that Ratoath levelled the scores when Connell Ahearne split the posts.

Dunshaughlin replied immediately from the kick out to go a point ahead again and then stretched it to two ahead in the fourteenth minute. However Ratoath soldiered on and a powerful kick out from Owen Doody was well fielded by Ben McGowan in midfield and then worked up the field to Niall Donnelly who passed it into the hands of Ahearne who stuck it in the net. Scores continued apace for the remainder of the half and when the ref blew for half-time it was Ratoath 1-05 to Dunshaughlin 0-07.

The second half started well with solid work from Gavin McGowan gaining Shane Duffy's charges two more points, but in the 38th minute Dunshaughlin struck back with a well taken point and in the following two minutes added two goals to their tally to go 2-08 to 1-07. Ratoath however did not let the heads go down and Joey Wallace burst up from midfield and took a strong shot at goal which was saved by the Dunshaughlin goalkeeper. Following that a well caught Dunshaughlin kickout, fielded by our midfield and passed up to Niall Donnelly who was fouled, with the free being converted by Ahearne.

The following Dunshaughlin kick out was fielded by Ben McGowan who was doing trojan work with his brother Gavin and was passed up the field to Ahearne who in turn passed it through to Tom Fadden who responded accordingly and put it in the net. The two teams continued a game of nip and tuck and in the 62nd minute Conor O'sullivan landed the killer blow with a well taken goal to leave the final score Ratoath 3-11 Dunshaughlin 2-10. With many fine performances from all the team it is hopefully onwards, upwards for the Ratoaths U21 footballers

Ratoath: Owen Doody, Conor Fitzpatrick, Brian Daly, James O'Brien, Andrew Gerrard, Keith McCabe, Ryan O'Sullivan, Gavin McGowan (0-07), Ben McGowan, Enda Cahill, Joey Wallace (0-01), Tom Fadden (1-01), Connell Ahearne (1-02), John Quinn, Niall Donnelly. Subs used - Conor O'Sullivan (1-0), Conor Cooley, Leigh Sullivan, Owen Clayton

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