St. Michaels 1-11, Ratoath 2-23
A sharp shooting Ratoath side saw off a gallant effort from St. Michaels with this convincing victory in Carlanstown on Saturday evening last.
Ratoath move in to to position in the All County Division 2 League while St Michaels drop to second spot.
Although the home side got off to a good start courtesy of two pointed frees from Ciaran Lynch and one from play from Shane McDonnell, when Ratoath found their feet there was no stopping them as they reeled off an impressive 1-14 in the opening 30 minutes.
Ciaran Lynch converted two further frees before Ratoath drew level after 12 minutes and in the next seven minutes they added 1-6 without reply. The home sides cause wasn't helped by the loss through a facial injury of J.B. O'Reilly after 12 minutes. Shane McDonnell gave his side a boost when he hit the back of the net from the penalty spot on twenty minutes after Oran Meehan was brought down in the square to trail by 1-5 to 1-11 and McDonnell and Meehan added a further point apiece before the interval but Ratoath finished stronger adding three points to lead by 1-14 to 1-7 at the break.
Three points from Ciaran Lynch ( all frees ) in the opening nine minutes of the second half reduced the deficit to four points for St. Michaels, however they failed to keep up the early momentum and could only manage a further point from McDonnell for the remainder of the match while at the other end of the pitch the visitors continued to pull away with their second major coming after 56 minutes .
St. Michaels: Darren O'Connell; Alan Reilly, Sam Briody, Mark Stafford; Christopher Drew, Ronan Cassidy, Matthew Halpin; Peter O'Connell, J.B. O'Reilly; Shane McCormack, Ciaran Lynch 0-7, Ronan Lynch; Ray Reilly, Oran Meehan 0-1, Shane McDonnell 1-3.
Subs: B. Tobin for O'Reilly, injured 12 minutes, B. Reilly for O'Connell injured 33 minutes, A. Briody for C. Lynch injured 57 minutes.
Referee: Paul Mooney.
Report and photo Pascal Reilly.
Tweet