Mooney keeps momentum going for Pat’s

ST PATRICK’S 1-10 RATOATH 1-6 ST PATRICK’S flying start to the season continued as they came away from Ratoath with the two points on Sunday morning.

Star of the show for the Stamullen men was veteran full forward Niall Mooney, scorer of all of his side’s 10 points.

Both teams were short regulars, with the host particularly affected by the unavailability of county players.

Mooney had St Patrick’s off the mark from two early frees as Ratoath squandered numerous opportunities and the home side tallied eight wides before they eventually opened their account from a Conall Ahearne free on 22 minutes.

Ratoath hit another 1-4 after that to go 1-5 to 0-2 clear approaching half-time. The goal came from Nathan Dunne who finished a Gareth Rooney pass to the net.

The game seemed to be drifting away from the east Meath men at that stage, but they ended the half brightly with another two points from Mooney.

Conor Rooney’s early second-half point left it 1-6 to 0-4, but St Patrick’s were then thrown a lifeline when Diarmuid Quinn got on the end of a fine passing move to finish to the Ratoath net.

There then followed a brief flareup which resulted in both sides being reduced to 14. St Patrick’s regained the initiative after that, with Mooney unerring from frees and play.

All of Mooney’s last four points came from frees and that was enough to maintain their 100% record going into this weekend’s clash with neighbours St Colmcille’s.

ST PATRICK’S: Brian Calvey; Adam Byrne, David McQuillan, Shane Byrne; Alan Vickers, Michael McNulty, David Stafford; Padraig Nulty, Kieran Lynch; Diarmuid Quinn 1-0, Darren Hagan, Aaron Kenna, Neil O’Flaherty, Niall Mooney 0-10 (04f), Johnny Woods. Subs: C Sullivan for B Calvey, Shane McGinty for Nulty.

RATOATH: Shane Duffy; Ryan Kelly, Andrew Gerrard, Ben Wyer; Jack Gillespie, Daragh McGill, Jack McGowan; Ben McGowan, Daithi McGowan; Connell Ahearne 0-4, Conor Rooney 0-2, Keith McCabe; Nathan Dunne 1-0, Gareth Rooney, Eoghan McMahon. Subs: Brian Daly for McMahon, Mark Daly for Dunne.

SKRYNE O’MAHONYS

1-14 0-10 at the break.

Skryne maintained momentum from the resumption and moved eight clear, 1-12 to 0-7, following the game’s only goal.

Former county keeper Paddy O’Rourke was in fine form in the winners’ attack, contributing eight points.

O’Mahonys reduced the scoreline slightly in the final quarter but were unable to snatch the goal they required.

SKRYNE: I Gillett; R Clarke, E Greene, D Morley; P Carpenter, D Ryan, J Hegarty; M Doherty, H Rooney; C O’Brien, B Davis 0-1, D Campion 0-2; I Davis 0-1, P O’Rourke 0-8, M Battersby. Subs: C Craigie 0-1, E Smyth, J Fox 1-1, S O’Brien, F Carty, M Harrington.

O’MAHONY’S: M Brennan; C Reilly, N. McKeigue, J O’Malley; C Doyle, D Smyth, R Geraghty; C McGuinness, C Finnegan; D Maguire, P Whelehan 0-3, E Coffey; S Gillespie 0-3, D Regan, R Keelaghan 0-4. Subs: J O’Reilly for C Reilly, D Dillon for Coffey, I Matthews for Geraghty, Craig O’Toole for Gillespie.

MOYNALVEY ST COLMCILLE’S

3-12 1-8