Cumann na mBunscol Finals: St Paul's win the battle of Ratoath
Division 1/2 Shield: St Paul's Ratoath 1-3 Ratoath SNS 0-5
Image 1 of 5
St Paul’s John Donnelly launches an attack during the Div Shield final at Trim. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net Gerry ShanahanImage 2 of 5
St Paul’s NS captain Rian Doyle received the Div 1/ 2 Hurling Shield from Cumann na mBunscol’s Brian Mullins. Gerry ShanahanImage 3 of 5
St Paul’s NS’s Jack Ducie received the Spirit of the Final award from The Meath Chronicle’s Tom Gannon (left) and Brian Mullins. Gerry ShanahanImage 4 of 5
The St Paul’s Ratoath players (from left) were: back - John Donnelly, Callum White, Liam McDonnell, Ben Arthur, Sean Foster, Matthew Woods, Rian Doyle, Nicholas Clarke, Jamie Roche, Cathal Crowley, Michael Gorman, Conall O’Riordan, Joel Phelan; front - Elliott Prendergast, Shane Daly, Tadhg Dempsey, Jack Ducie, Aidan Dempsey, Cullen Smyth, Luke Stafford, Conor Hickey. David MullenImage 5 of 5
The Ratoath SNS players (from left) were: back - Ruairí Grogan, Adam Lumley, Jack McGuinness, JJ Killian, Conor McClean, Bruno Starzyk, Hugh McNerney, Barra McGowan, Senan Brady, Fionn O’Meara, Evan Kelly, Caelan Grall, Odhran Phelan, Joe Jordan, Michael Brennan, Greg Campbell, Noah Martin; front - Brayden Boggans, Cathal Ryan, Max Ryan, Jude Lane, Lorcan Whelan, Josh Hynes, Michael Gallagher, Conor Fitzgerald, Kaiden Clarke, Michael Ryan, Michael Barron.Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.ne David MullenSt Paul's Ratoath fought back valiantly in the closing stages to clinch the Div 1/2 Shield final over their neighbours Ratoath SNS in a tightly contested finale.
These two sides had met in the group stages and on that occasion Ratoath SNS came out on top. With a good chunk of the players on either side sharing a club side, this was always going to be a tight affair as both teams knew each other very well.
As the scoreline suggests, both defences performed excellently throughout but it was also certainly a game of two halves. Ratoath SNS got off to a strong start. Barra McGowan kicked off proceedings with two frees and after seven minutes, Ratoath SNS led 0-2 to 0-0. The energetic Michael Ryan added to the tally before McGowan hit his third free to extend the gap to four after 15 minutes.
Shane Daly got St Paul's off the mark in the 24th minute but his score was cancelled out on the stroke of half-time by Evan Kelly. At the break, Ratoath SNS led 0-5 to 0-1.
The second-half was an even tighter, low-scoring affair. Jack Ducie did reduce the gap to two early on in the half, but they were the only scores for a large portion of the second 25 minutes.
Ratoath SNS did come close to finding the back of the St Paul's net but Joe Jordan's shot on goal went wide in the 35th minute. With five minutes remaining a goal for Jack Ducie brought the contest to life. Ducie cut in from the left and produced a fine finish to draw St Paul's level.
Then a minute later, Ducie stepped up again and hit the winning score much to the delight of the St Paul's faithful supporters.
St Paul’s NS, Ratoath - Matthew Woods; John Donnelly, Sean Foster, Elliott Prendergast; Conall O’Riordan, Nicholas Clarke, Tadhg Dempsey; Rian Doyle, Cullen Smyth; Shane Daly (0-1 free), Conor Hickey, Aidan Dempsey; Cathal Crowley, Ben Arthur, Jack Ducie (1-2 one free).
Subs - Liam McDonnell, Joel Phelan, Jamie Roche, Callum White, Mike O'Gorman, Luke Stafford, Oliver Foran. Mentors - Seán Hogan, Shane Mulvany.
Ratoath SNS - Josh Hynes; Conor McClean, Hugh McNerney, Connor Fitzgerald; Greg Campbell, Barra McGowan (0-3 frees), Odhran Phelan; Senan Brady, Kayden Clarke; Michael Ryan (0-1), Evan Kelly (0-1), Michael Gallagher; Joe Jordan, Fionn O’Meara, Caelan Grall.
Subs - Noah Martin, Jude Lane, JJ Killian, Bruno Starzyk, Michael Barron, Cathal Ryan, Ruairí Grogan, Lorcan Whelan, Jack McGuinness, Brayden Boggans, Maxwell Ryan, Michael Brennan, Adam Lumley. Mentors - Niamh Shaw, Deirdre Kinsella, Pierce Butler.
Referee - Kevin Higgins (St Mary’s NS, Trim).