Ratoath's brave bid for glory falters
Like so many teams before them Ratoath experienced the bitter taste of defeat at Nowlan Park in Kilkenny when they lost (0-12 to 1-16) to Mooncoin in the Leinster Club JHC final today.
The Meath side had made the trip to the home of Kilkenny hurling hopeful of making history but their ambitions were dismantled in the second-half when the 'home' side upped the tempo and powered their way to victory.
The game was the culmination of a memorable journey for Ratoath in more ways than one that included a stop-off at Pairc Tailteann to win the JHC before embarking on their provincial campaign.
They really made Mooncoin work for this victory with Ratoath particularly impressive in the firts-half.
The sides were level six times in that opening moiety but at the break Mooncoin led 1-7 to 0-9.
Padraig O'Hanrahan (four), Gavin McGown (two), Ciaran O'Hanrahan (two) and Bryan McMahon (one) all pointed for the Meath side.
Ratoath led twice in that opening half but their two-point advantage was wiped out on 23 minutes when Mooncoin's Eamon Hennebry turned to fire the ball to the top of the net.
Ratoath never really recovered from that blow and the Kilkenny side really upped the tempo a few more notches in the second-half and made it difficult for their opponents to find time or space.
Bobby O'Brien hit the bar for the Meath JHC winners in 46 minutes when the score stood at 1-12 to 0-10. If that had gone it would have set up a very interesting finish.
Ratoath struggled to create or take scores in the second-half with only O'Hanrahan (two) and Ben McGowan scoring.
As a consequence Ratoath lost their chance of glory. Still it has been a memorable year for the team - and an indication hurling in Ratoath is on the way back.
Ratoath - Gearoid Crowley; Turlough O'Neill, Brian Murphy, Niall Murphy; Paddy Dowd, Dara Kelly, Conor Ward; Bobby O'Brien, Jack McGowan; Ben McGowan (0-1), Ciaran O'Hanrahan (0-2), Sean O'Hanrahan; Padraig O'Hanrahan (0-6 four frees), Gavin McGowan (0-2), Bryan McMahon (0-1). Subs - Brian Farrelly for O'Neill 42 mins, Neil O'Dowd for Ward 57m.
Mooncoin - Eoin Purcell; Conor Brophey, Niall Mackey, Liam Hennebry; Cormac Daly (0-1), Eoin Hennebry, Seamus Kearns; Cormac Fleming, Kevin Crowley (0-5 four frees); Sean Walsh, Sean Wall, Ray Wall (0-3 one free); Michael Grace, Eamon Hennebry (1-2), Mark Fitzgerald. Subs - Alan Walsh (0-3) for S Wall half-time, Paul Hennebry (0-1) for Fitzgerald 39m, Keith Kirwan (0-1) for S Kearns 52m, David Kearns for Crowley 55m.