Meath Hill 0-16 Rathkenny 2-12

Rathkenny made the short trip to Meath Hill on a warm Thursday evening for Round 9 of the Division 2 league campaign. The visitors started the brighter of the two sides, creating two early chances, but it was Meath Hill who opened the scoring through Jack McMahon.

Rathkenny responded immediately after capitalising on some sloppy play from the home side. Meath Hill regained the lead shortly after when Sean Owens pointed, following excellent work from McMahon to keep the ball in play. Dominic Yorke then stretched the lead with a two-pointer, awarded after a 50-metre advance from the referee.

Despite this, Rathkenny began to grow into the game and chipped away at the lead with a pair of scores, punishing Meath Hill’s failure to clear their lines. They eventually levelled proceedings at four points apiece. Jack McMahon then slotted over a close-range free for his second of the evening, and Ryan Shekelton followed with a two-point free to push Meath Hill ahead by three. Rathkenny would have the final say of the half, narrowing the gap before the break.

Half-time score: Meath Hill 0-07 Rathkenny 0-05

The second half started in style, with Cormac Sheehy curling over a superb two-pointer off the outside of the boot. Rathkenny answered quickly with a two-point effort of their own, this time aided by dissent from Meath Hill.

Though Meath Hill applied significant pressure on the Rathkenny defence, they failed to convert opportunities. Rathkenny, on the other hand, made their possession count—hitting 1-2 in a decisive spell that swung momentum firmly in their favour. They added two more points from play in what became a dominant phase.

Sheehy offered some resistance with another excellent two-pointer from distance, and Pierce McGrath added a fisted point after a Sheehy free dropped dangerously into the square. However, Rathkenny were awarded and converted a penalty, further extending their lead and tightening their grip on the game.

Dominic Yorke fired back with two well-taken two-pointers to cut the deficit to two points, but Meath Hill couldn’t find a way through in the closing minutes. Rathkenny’s second-half surge proved decisive as they ran out four-point winners in an entertaining encounter.

Meath Hill face St. Vincent’s in Ardcath on Tuesday, July 1st at 8:00pm.

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