Ratoath 1-13
O'Mahonys 1-8

Strong favourites Ratoath saw off a spirited Navan O'Mahonys' comeback to retain the Coolrite Refrigeration Under 21 FC title on Friday night at Pairc Tailteann.

Holders Ratoath seemed set to repeat their 26-point win over O'Mahonys in the opening round last year when leading by 1-6 to 0-0 after 21 minutes on a dry mild night.

By the 47th minute O'Mahonys were just three points off the pace, 1-6 to 1-9, having outscored Fergal Power's charges by 1-6 to 0-3 in a 26-minute spell.

That was as good as it got for the Brews Hill outfit as a couple of good saves by Ratoath 'keeper Robert Watters ensured that his side's hold on the Joey McKeown Cup didn't slip.

Ten of Ratoath's starters featured in that emphatic win over O'Mahonys 13 months ago. Kenny McGuirk's charges featured 13 players who figured in that fixture at Dunsany.

One Ratoath player who didn't feature on that Saturday afternoon was Bryan McMahon. Apart from contributing 0-7 here, his work rate was central to his side's second title at this level.

Ratoath's success was built on ability and graft. Another to exemplify those traits was wing-back Colm Nugent who covered large swathes of the county ground.

O'Mahonys' resilience was laudable. With Ruairi O Coileain - the only member of the SFC winning side to feature - and Cathal Smyth leading the charge they cut the gap to just three points early in the final quarter. That was as good as it got for The Hoops.

Just four points separated the sides heading into just over four minutes of stoppage time which ended with McMahon pointing a close range free.

The team in blue and gold posted the opening four scores from as many different players: Jack McGowan, Conor McGill, McMahon (free) and Joey Wallace. The latter after a jinking solo run that left a few O'Mahonys' defenders in his wake. It proved to be the only score from Ratoath's number 13..

Ratoath's goal arrived in the 14th minute when Mark Daly became his side's fifth scorer when finishing to the net at the old swimming pool end. McGill, O'Brien and finally McMahon assisted.

O'Mahonys' first score arrived in the 23rd minute courtesy of a Conor Murphy free. Their first flag from play quickly followed with Robert Keeleghan registering. Ratoath responded with a trio of scores to go 10 points clear by the 28th minute.

Ratoath led by 1-9 to 0-3 at the break. O'Mahonys quickly set about whittling down the deficit with Smyth placing O Coileain for a point within 45 seconds of the restart.

A foul on Keeleghan by Aidan Quigley (for which the latter was black-carded) led to a penalty which team captain Dylan Regan expertly dispatched to the net to leave just five points in it after 37 minutes.

O'Mahonys maintained momentum and got the gap down to three points before McMahon opened Ratoath's second-half account with a 49th minute free.

Ratoath: Robert Watters; Brian Daly, Gavin McGowan, Aidan Quigley; Brian O'Connor, Brian Power, Colm Nugent, Conor McGill (0-1), Keith McCabe, Conor Rooney (0-2), Bobby O'Brien (0-1), Jack McGowan (0-1); Joey Wallace (0-1), Bryan McMahon (0-7, 4fs), Mark Daly (1-0). Subs - Darragh Kelly for McGowan (27), Adam Griffiths for Kelly (30), Jason Tyndall for Quigley (bc 37), Patrick Flood for Daly (bc 54)

O'Mahonys - Colin Honan; James O'Malley, Conor Doyle, Andy Leech; Conor Gleeson, Declan McGuinness (0-1), Kevin O'Hanlon; Dylan Regan (1-1, 1-0 pen), Stephen Monaghan; Conor Murphy (0-1,free), Ruairi O Coileain (0-2, 1f)), Cathal Smyth; Robbie Keeleghan (0-3, 0-2fs), Lee Dixon, Corey Leddy. Subs - Brian Gibney for Murphy (28), Evan Murtagh for Dixon (28), Gavin Fox for Gleeson (bc 52), Cormac McEntaggart for Leddy (56).

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)

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