Pats brought down to earth by Rathkenny
Rathkenny St Patrick’s 0-10 0-8
ERRATIC St Patrick’s were fortunate to get out of this SFC tie without a hiding at Duleek last Friday evening.
The Stamullen men produced the sort of performance that has been so frustrating for their supporters to watch in recent times. And after their heroics when coming from nine points in arrears to force a draw with Ratoath, one of the championship favourites, they produced a display that probably wouldn’t be good enough to win a game in a lower grade.
Despite those shortcomings Niall Russell’s team were still in contention to record a victory after coming back from a four-point deficit to be on level terms after 52 minutes. However, it would have been a great injustice had they got anything from this game after they were outplayed for much of the 60 minutes.
Rathkenny dominated but shot a total of 19 wides, a dozen of which arrived in the opening half. However, that was an indication of their superiority as they stumbled across the winning line for what was a fully deserved victory.
The Rathkenny defence wasn’t nearly as accommodating as that of Ratoath, who conceded four goals, and the east Meath side managed just three points from play, with the remaining five coming from the boot of Niall Mooney from frees.
Despite their shortcomings they did manage a revival of sorts to be level at 0-8 apiece entering the closing stages. St Patrick’s had the momentum with them at that point, but full credit to Rathkenny who not only weathered the storm but hit back to snatch the match-winning scores.
Rathkenny defended superbly in the closing minutes, maintaining their discipline and ensuring that they didn’t concede needless frees when St Patrick’s went in search of the lead score. The east Meath side did have possession but were unable to break down a well marshalled rearguard.
Keith Curtis restored Rathkenny’s lead from a free following a foul on himself five minutes from the finish and Jack Gore then doubled that advantage to clinch what could well well prove a crucial victory.
St Patrick’s led for the only time when Mooney pointed them ahead on four minutes and he also registered their only other score of the half, also from a free, as they trailed 0-2 to 0-6 at the break.
Jack Gore hit two successive wides for Rathkenny before opening their account after possession was turned over. The north Meath side had a goal opportunity when a Curtis free dropped short, but keeper Robert Cluskey did well to keep out Brian Lenehan’s effort from close range at the expense of a 45, which Lenehan converted.
Rathkenny enjoyed almost total dominance throughout the half, but a four-point interval lead was scant reward for those efforts. Brian Meade, Curtis (two) and Keith Timmons contributed their other points of the half.
The sides swapped points twice in the opening five minutes of the second half, but St Patrick’s then enjoyed a productive spell. Mooney pointed twice and Donal Landy added another to leave the minimum between the sides on 48 minutes.
Mooney gained parity following a foul on Shane Dowling and at that stage it looked as if Rathkenny’s failure to convert chances would come back to haunt them.
However, they showed their resilience in the closing stages as they not only repelled St Patrick’s best efforts but hit back to snatch victory.
RATHKENNY: Colin Curtis; Niall Brannigan, Ross Gore, Joe Gore; Thomas McGuinness, Donal Keogan, Christy Meade; Robert Garry, Brian Meade 0-1; Brian Lenehan 0-1 (45’), Jack Gore 0-3, Stephen Crosbie; Keith Curtis 0-4 (2f), James Macken, Keith Timmons 0-1. Subs: Donal Curtis for Timmons (47), Owen Elliott for Lenehan (57).
ST PATRICK’S: Robert Cluskey; Adam Byrne, David McQuillan, David Stafford; John Curtis, Ciaran Sullivan, Shane Byrne; Alan Vickers, Shane Dowling 0-1; Diarmuid Quinn, Neil O’Flaherty 0-1, Barry Mooney; Niall Mooney 0-5fs, Darren Hagan, Donal Landy 0-1. Sub: Niall Whearty for Vickers (49).
Liam O’Brien (Duleek-Bellewstown)