Christmas Cracker as Tones celebrate
Wolfe Tones staged their own version of a smash and grab raid when they took the Joey McKeown Cup home from Páirc Tailteann this evening with a sensational 0-19 to 1-15 extra-time victory against shellshocked Ratoath.
Normal time saw the Tones grab a late equaliser from Caolan Ward's free and in extra-time they went one better with Thomas Blaney's added time leveller followed by Thomas O'Reilly's match-winning pointed free.
O'Reilly's original task from about 40 metres was made easier when referee Patrick Nelis moved the ball forward, apparently for dissent, and the ball duly sailed between the posts to leave the Tones in party mode and Ratoath wondering how they lost and, initially anyway, posing questions of the referee.
This was a Christmas Cracker. The Tones started well, then faded in the second-half and again in extra-time, but still managed to survive.
Three pointed Caolan Ward frees and a similar amount from play by Saran O Fionnagáin helped Wolfe Tones to a merited 0-8 to 0-5 interval lead with midfielders Padraig Diamond and Cian O'Neill also claiming one each.
Ratoath were on the backfoot for most of the opening half, but character and determination kept them in contention as Leigh Sullivan, Niall Donnelly (free), Conall Ahern, Gavin McGowan and Enda Cahill kept the scoreboard ticking over.
The sides shared eight points in a lively third-quarter as O Fionnagain (two), Ward and Diamond sustained the Tones against some intense Ratoath pressure that came from well-taken points by Cian Rogers (two), Ryan Kelly and Ben McGowan.
Ratoath had the deficit down to two twice in that period and reduced it again when Gavin McGowan sent over a long free, but a minute later he was narrowly wide from a similar effort.
Ratoath's Cian Rogers embarked on a solo raid for a fine point that cut the deficit to the minimum, but then the Tones had a great goal chance which they missed.
However, it looked like Saran O Fionnagáin could have had a penalty, but the referee let play continue.
Ratoath countered and they got a penalty which Rogers converted as Tones defender Oisin Mac Ghinneartai departed on a black card.
Late points from Thomas O'Reilly and Ward (both frees) saved the Tones (0-14 to 1-11) and sent the game to extra-time where Tony Kearney's men completed their escape.
SEE CHRONICLE OUT TUESDAY FOR FULL REPORT AND POST-MATCH REACTIONS FROM TONES AND RATOATH
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