Ratoath ‘double’ dreams on track
NAVAN O’MAHONY’S were the last club to complete a senior football and hurling double back in 1985 and champions Ratoath edged a step closer to achieving that feat following this SFC semi-final win at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.
Ratoath, who won their first ever senior football crown 12 months ago, are also seeking a first senior hurling title and take on Na Fianna in a semi-final this Sunday.
This was a repeat of last year’s decider and again five points separated the teams at the finish. Ratoath made a more sluggish start this time around, though they held the lead from the opening minute until just before half-time. They weren’t behind for long, however, and a dominant third quarter saw them take control of proceedings and in a flash they had built up a match-winning lead.
Summerhill relied heavily on Barry Dardis for scores, but the full forward’s place kicking was erratic at times and they didn’t have anyone else to seriously trouble the Ratoath rearguard.
Jack Flynn had the holders ahead within 15 seconds and without producing anything close to their best they stayed in front until the stroke of half-time when Summerhill were awarded a penalty after Conor McGill was penalised for a foul on John Lavelle.
Dardis, who earlier hit a free wide from in front of the posts, made no mistake from the penalty spot and it left the ‘Hill in front 1-5 to 0-7 at the break.
Conor Rooney, from a free and play, had Ratoath level twice in the early stages of the second half. Flynn then pointed them ahead on 40 minutes and Daithi McGowan doubled the lead a minute later.
Then came the game’s decisive score, also from the penalty spot. This time Lavelle was the culprit, fouling Cian O’Brien and earning himself a black card in the process. Cian Rogers sent keeper Tony McDonnell the wrong way and it pushed Ratoath into a 1-11 to 1-6 lead. Sub Connell Ahearne stretched the lead further with a fisted point and with the Summerhill forwards struggling to make any sort of impression a comeback never looked likely.
Daithi McGowan and Bryan McMahon kept the scoreboard ticking over for the winners and they ran out comfortable enough winners.
David Dalton went close to finding the net for Summerhill in the closing stages, but his effort from close range was jointly smothered by keeper Shane Duffy and Ben Wyer.
The Ratoath bench included both Eamonn and Joey Wallace, but neither of the intercounty duo saw any action.
RATOATH: Shane Duffy; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Conor McGill, Ben Wyer;
Jack Gillespie, Gavin McGowan, Andrew Gerrard 0-1; Ben McGowan, Darragh Kelly; Daithi McGowan 0-2, Cian Rogers 1-1 (1-0 pen), Conor Rooney 0-3 (1f); Cian O’Brien, Bryan McMahon 0-3f, Jack Flynn 0-3. Subs: Keith McCabe for Kelly (h-t), Connell
Ahearne 0-1 for O’Brien (52), Emmet Boyle for Gillespie (53), Brian O’Connor for Rogers (58), Jack McGowan for Rooney (60).
SUMMERHILL: Tony McDonnell; Iarla Hughes, Ronan Ryan, John Lavelle; Jack Bannon, John Keane 0-1, Ross
Ryan; Diarmuid McCabe 0-1, Michael Byrne; David Larkin 0-1, Liam Shaw, Kevin Ryan 0-1; David Dalton, Barry Dardis 1-4 (1-0 pen, 3f), Conor Frayne 0-1. Sub: Paul Larkin for Shaw (54). REFEREE: Cormac Reilly (St Mary’s)