Ráth Tó 0-9
An Baile Corr 0-8

Ratoath had to dig deep for a win in the first round of Corn na Boinne this afternoon in Sean Eiffe Park.

It was the visitors who managed to get on the score sheet first, scoring three points before Ratoath's Cian O Brien scored a point from play to get them off the mark.

Ratoath were very understrength playing without their county stars, Joey & Eamon Wallace, Bryan Mc Mahon, Brian Power and Conor Mc Gill and it was score for score for the first half, two more from Cian O Brien (1 free) and a well worked move from Bobby O Brien which left the game at a draw (4 points apiece) by the end of the first half. Colm Nugent had been causing problems for the Cortown defence throughout the first half until he was shown a straight red just minutes from half time.

Cortown again started the second half the better and registered points on the scoreboard before a well taken free put Ratoath back in contention. There was nothing between these teams again in the second half. Ratoath had a lot of possession but struggled to find the posts at times. With just ten minutes left on the clock, Cortown went a point up and it took two well taken points by Conor Rooney to edge the game in favour of the hosts.

Best for Ratoath were Cian O Brien, Bobby O Brien, Darragh Mc Gill and Gavin Mc Gowan

Foireann Ráth Tó: 1. Andrew Smith 2. Brian Daly 3. Darragh Mc Gill 4. Paul Flaherty 5. Brian O Connor 6. Gavin Mc Gowan 7. Colm Nugent 8. Cian O Brien (0-6, (0-3f)) 9. Keith Mc Cabe 10. Patrick Quinn 11. Bobby O Brien (0-1) 12. Gareth Rooney 13. Conor Rooney (0-2) 14. Shane Duffy 15. Mark Daly. Subs: Robert Watters for Andrew Smith, Jack Mc Gowan for Shane Duffy, Lenny Brown for Mark Daly

Cortown Report

Ratoath 0-9
Cortown 0-8

Ratoath edged a valiant Cortown out of the Corn Na Boinne by the smallest of margins on a wet and windy Sean McEiffee Park on Sunday afternoon. In truth, Cortown players and supporters travelled more in hope rather than expectation after a disappointing couple of results in weeks gone by against St Ultans and Nobber respectably.

Cortown were missing several key players who were unavailable for one reason or another, most notably Gary Coyne who was on work duty, Brian Faulkner who was injured and Ivor O'Halloran and Kevin McGuiness who were ill to name but a few. Butch Casserly was also unavailable as he was in calf! Ratoath were also missing several key figures who are involved with the Meath team however they did possess many of the victorious under 21 Championship winning side from December with players like Daragh McGill, Keith McCabe and Bobby O'Brien.

Ratoath basically had played a game before it even began with an intense warm-up to say the least and when it started you'd imagine they'd be the side who would make the brighter start. This wasn't the case and Cortown without Ivor O'Halloran who normally takes warm-up duties had a more relaxed warm-up. Cortown did make the better start with the wind and took an early lead from the veteran midfielder Glen Loughran with a trademark long range free after Colm Kerrigan was fouled some 45 metres from goal.

Cortown doubled their advantage when Ryan O'Rourke pointed from a simple free from 14 yards after the lanky full forward Declan Coyne was fouled. Ratoath responded but Cortown kept their noses in front when O'Rourke sent a long pass towards Coyne but it eluded him and full back Daragh McGill but David Rispin latched onto it and bared down on goal but was unceremoniously taken down by the Ratoath keeper who collected a yellow for his sins. O'Rourke did the rest from the resulting free.

Ratoath battled back to parity but Cortown looked far more up for it today and some heroic defending from Daragh O'Halloran and debutant Danny Murphy in particular. They continued to cause problems for the homeside when attacking and Brian Smith who was performing well in the middle of the park got a free which O'Rourke stuck away for his third of the afternoon.

There was unsavoury incident soon after which resulted in referee Joey Curley brandishing a red card to a Ratoath man as the game edged towards the interval. Ratoath took the lead briefly before O'Rourke nicked in and went on a solo run before splitting the posts from a tight angle. That was all for the first half as the sides went in deadlocked at 5 points apiece.
The second half was always going to be a close affair as well as Ratoath played with a gale force wind with Cortown having a spare man. Ratoath did take an early lead but they were pegged back again from the resilient Junior Champions who simply wouldn't lie down. Daragh O'Halloran played a ball into space and it seemed it had got away from Rispin but a back heal followed by a quick flick up saw him chip over to level things up again.

Rispin got his second soon after that putting the men in green two up after O'Rourke dished off and Rispin shot on sight. It looked a bit dubious but the least biased man in the place...Justin Reilly gave it the sign of approval and Curley agreed as Ratoath fumed. To say the hosts were having an off day in front of the posts would be the understatement of the century!

Thankfully for Cortown it wasn't a game of Australian rules football because Ratoath would have won the game on overs alone. However with no uprights beside the goal perhaps it was the affect of 'The Special One' Jose Rennicks was on umpiring duty. Ratoaths wastefulness was Cortown's clinical nature but they did finally manage back to back scores for all their dominance in and around the middle.

It was end to end entering the final finale as both teams had opportunities to win it but Ratoath stole it at the death to break Cortown hearts. Despite some late huffing and puffing it just wasn't to be for the battling visitors who exit at the first hurdle while the favourites for the Corn Na Boinne and Championship will be relieved to get out of jail and avoid a shock exit.

This should be a springboard for Cortown after a slack start to the season but a much improved performance here will boost confidence and believe that the Junior Champions can turn it round in the league and look forward to the Intermediate Championship. Cortown can look forward to an almighty duel with arch rivals Drumbaragh in two weeks time whilst Jose Rennicks will prepare his second team troops for a revenge mission against Ratoath next Friday in the B league.

Cortown: John McFadden, John McGearty, Paddy Kerrigan, Declan Clarke, Declan Clarke, Danny Murphy, Colm Kerrigan, Daragh O'Halloran, Glen Loughran (0-1f), Stephen Clarke, Brian Smith, Tommy Smith, Ryan O'Rourke (0-5,4fs), Declan Coyne, David Rispin (0-2). Subs: David Wright for D Clarke, David Coyne for Coyne, Tomas Brien for S Clarke, Stephen Clarke for Murphy.

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