Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Joey hits heights at right time
Ratoath Gaeil Colmcille
1-13
LAST action hero Joey Wallace thanked boss Brian Farrell for throwing him a dramatic lifeline with Ratoath.
Meath attacker Wallace and big brother Eamon missed most of the club campaign after opting to focus on athletics.
But they played their part in a remarkable senior final success in Navan - ensuring the Keegan Cup stays at their Brownstown base.
Joey struck 1-3 including the 68th minute goal that sealed the win in what was his first club start of 2020.
Speedy sibling Eamon came on as a sub and won a 66th minute free that captain Bryan Mcmahon converted, leaving two in it and teeing up the late drama.
Man of the Match Joey said: “I only found out on Saturday I was playing, I got a phone call off Brian. I’ve a lot of respect for him for putting his trust in me. A lot of managers wouldn’t because I haven’t been here all year. Fair play to him.
“It was my first game this year for Ratoath. I was doing athletics all summer, training away with them and then I came back training two weeks before the semi-final for Ratoath.”
Ratoath were reduced to 14 men after sub Emmett Boyle’s 58th-minute dismissal and they trailed by three when Brian
Hanlon goaled from a penalty four minutes later.
But they reeled off that late 1-1 to keep the club in line for a dream double of senior titles with the hurlers meeting Trim in the decider next weekend.
Ratoath won their first football title last year under ex-dublin star Davy Byrne but he was controversially replaced by former Blues forward Farrell.
RATOATH SCORERS: B Mcmahon (0-5, 3f), J Wallace (1-3), D Mcgowan (0-4, 3f, 1 45), C O’brien (0-1), J Flynn (0-1). GAEIL COLMCILLE: B Hanlon (1-5, 1pen, 3f), S Mattimoe (0-4, 3f), J Reilly (0-1); L Ferguson (0-1), C Courtney (0-1), E Sheridan (0-1).