U13 Reserve Semi-final
Ratoath 2-7 Dunshaughlin 2-5
Ratoath held their nerve in a tense finale to deservedly seal a place in the U13 reserve final after a hard-fought local derby against old rivals Dunshaughlin on Wednesday night.
In a tight contest in which there was rarely more than a score between the sides, Ratoath showed great character and teamwork under pressure to hold out against an opposition side that threw the kitchen sink at the Ratoath defence in the final moments to try and grab a winning goal.
It said everything about how hard scores were to come by on a night when both defences were in top form that the first score of the game didn't come until the 11th minute - a free from Dunshaughlin who added a point from play soon after. But with Aaron Davis safe as houses in goal and Sean Murphy a tower of strength at full-back, Ratoath never buckled. Cian Murphy began to hoover up ball in the corner and with Alex O'Kane, Niall Rooney and James McCann beginning to dominate, Ratoath suddenly found another gear. Evan Weir got things going with a cracking point from play before Dunshaughlin replied in kind.
And then Ratoath hit 1-3 without reply in the run up to half-time to take firm control. Two good points from Tom Roddy at full-forward were sandwiched between a great point from play from Evan Weir and the crucial goal from James McCann, robbing the goalkeeper of possession to help Ratoath into a 1-4 to 0-4 lead at half-time, Sean Mohan and Cian O'Farrell also showing well up front.
With Aaron Farrell getting a firm grip around the middle and Jack Lanigan starting to pull the strings from half-forward, a second goal arrived. A dangerous ball in from Jack Lanigan was broken down by Tom Roddy for Evan Weir to rattle the net.
Dunshaughlin replied but the tireless Cathal Byrne kept Ratoath on the front foot and Tom Roddy grabbed another score after great set-up play by Niall Rooney and Aaron Davis.
A second Dunshaughlin goal led to a nervy final quarter but Ratoath had strength in reserve in Marc Donnelly, Scott Cadwell, Dylan Stears, Oisin McGee, Dean Lacey, Brian Moore, Jack Fennessy, Joshua Crampton, Adam O'Connor, Michael Moriarty, Callum Browne,
A great effort from everyone in the squad to reach the final, time and venue still to be decided.
Ratoath: Aaron Davis; Sean Murphy, Cian Murphy; Alex O'Kane, Niall Rooney, James McCann; Aaron Farrell, Evan Weir; Jack Lanigan, Sean Mohan, Cian O'Farrell; Tom Roddy, Cathal Byrne. Marc Donnelly, Scott Cadwell, Brian Moore, Dylan Stears, Jack Fennessy, Oisin McGee, Dean Lacey, David, Joshua Crampton, Adam O'Connor, Michael Moriarty, Callum Browne,Diarmuid Stoney,David O'Malley,Jack Farrell