Ratoath bounce back

Ratoath put neighbours Curraha in their place at Ashbourne on Friday with a comprehensive second round JFC victory which got their qualification prospects back on track. Expecting Curraha to win this one was perhaps looking for too much from a team with limited resources, especially in the forwad line. The Curraha forwards wasted too many chances, particularly in the opening half as they trailed by 0-3 to 1-4 at the interval. Five terrible first-half wides contributed to their demise as they could have enjoyed an interval advantage against a nervous looking Ratoath team anxious to rectify a first round defeat by Ballinabrackey. "We were very disappointed the last day, we didn't perform against Ballinabrackey and we had a point to prove in this game," Ratoath manager Ciaran O'Malley told the Meath Chronicle. "We made some changes to the team, but Curraha put it up to us from the start. "Once we got to the pace of the game we were alright, although if Curraha had taken some of the early chances they created we might have had to work a bit harder for a victory. "I think we saw the real Ratoath team in the second-half, this is a young team and I'm confident that we can improve from this performance and we are looking forward to playing Drumbaragh in the next round," he added. Two points in four minutes from David Dunne and Neil Shortall gave Curraha the perfect start, but a paltry three points for the next 56 minutes adequately explains why Ratoath won this game with a certain amout of ease. Darragh O'Brien had his side on level terms by the 10th minute, he also managed to collect a yellow card from referee Frank Gallogly who was generous in his use of the whistle and kept a tight rein throughout. Cian O'Brien carved the opening for Ratoath's goal soon after, but Eoin McMahon still had some work to do before the net bulged. Curraha countered swiftly and a fine reaction save by Richie Donnelly kept Alan Carroll's fisted goal-bound effort out as Ratoath huffed and puffed to that four-point interval advantage. Meath minor player Farrell McManus enjoyed a good outing at midfield for Ratoath and when Gavin Eiffe found the net nine minutes after the resumption, Ratoath were ahead by 2-6 to 0-4 and home and hosed. Curraha kept battling and that maintained the interest of the good-sized crowd, but there was never any danger of a recovery although substitute Gary Dowling found the net near the end and was denied a second goal when Donnelly saved well to avert the danger. Ratoath certainly have potential to improve and the next game could ultimately determine whether they or Drumbaragh qualify for the quarter-finals. If Ratoath indulge what looks like a passion for gifting poeesssion to the opposition they will be punished. They will have an opportunity to work on that that aspect of their game in Friday night's Tailteann Cup against Moylagh. Ratoath - R Donnelly; C Killian, P Flaherty, S Mcmahon; S O'Brien, E Horan, N Horgan; F McManus, M Conmey (0-1); R Madden, C O'Brien (0-3 one free), E McMahon (1-1 pointed free); D O'Brien (0-5), J Kirwin, G Eiffe (1-1). Subs - D Magill for Horgan 45 mins; K Boyle for Kirwin 52m; B Crowley for S O'Brien 54m. Curraha - A Dowling; T Heterton, R Hetherton, D Coyle; N Shortall (0-1), B Doyle, K Mallon; L Keogh, P Dowling; G Coyle, N Keogh, S Mallon (0-2); B Cosgrave, A Carroll, D Dunne (0-2). Subs - S Prendiville for Cosgrave 44 mins; M Jackson for Mallon 49m; S Morgan for D Coyle 53m G Dowling (1-0) for Dunne 55m; S Dardis for Keogh 56m Referee - Frank Gallogly (Dunshaughlin).