Ratoath ease to victory in cagey clash with Bracks
Galvin and Ratoath got their 2025 SFC off to winning start against Ballinabrackey on Sunday
Ratoath 2-3-9 (21)
Ballinabrackey 1-2-7 (14)
A solid third quarter was crucial to Ratoath's cosy SFC victory over Ballinabrackey in Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. The first half was a cagey affair and neither team really took a stronghold in the clash. Ratoath were slightly happier than the opposition at the break as they narrowly led by a point having played into a stiff breeze.
Soon after the restart, the Bracks were temporarily reduced to 14 men after Niall Smullen received a black card. During this period, Ratoath made good use of their numerical advantage and outscored their opponents 1-5 to 0-1 as Eamon Wallace found the back of the net from the spot. The closing stages were uneventful as Paul Galvin's sides eased to an opening round victory.
Danny Quinn got proceedings underway before Gavin McGowan played a lovely ball across the face off goal and Cian Rogers finished to the back of the Balinabrackey net to give Ratoath an early boost. Scores from Bryan McMahon and Glen O'Reilly handed Ratoath an early four-point lead but that was whittled back to two when Dean Pluck nailed a two-point free. A second Balinabrackey two-pointer, this time struck by Quinn, brought Ciaran Giblin's side back on level terms and after 15 minutes the sides were deadlocked 1-3 to 0-6.
The second quarter was nip and tuck. There were plenty of turnovers and missed opportunities at either end. The sides traded two blows each before a Cian Crawford point sent Ratoath in at the break with a narrow advantage. At half-time, Paul Galvin's charges led 1-6 to 0-8.
Now playing with the wind at their backs, Ratoath went straight on the offensive after the restart and a Daithi McGowan two-pointer stretched their lead to three points.
Niall Smullen was then temporarily banished to the Ballinabrackey dugout for a black card offence, a decision that was probably slightly harsh on the Brack's midfielder. Ratoath immediately went to work and tried to pull clear of their opponents. Wallace tapped over before Gavin McGowan scored an unbelievable two-pointer from a long way out.
Liam Kelly was then dragged down and fouled inside the Ballinabrackey large rectangle. Wallace made no mistake with the finish from the spot as he sent Pluck the wrong way and slotted the ball into the bottom right corner.
Quinn pulled one back for Ballinabrackey but McGowan slotted another two-pointer. During the 10-minute period where Ballinabrackey were reduced to 14 men, Ratoath outscored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-1 and after 41 minutes of action, Ratoath led 2-13 to 0-9.
Against the run of play and under fierce pressure from Ratoath defenders, David Carroll managed somehow to get a shot on goal away and his effort rattled into the net off the right-hand post. Quinn and Daithi McGowan traded two blows each in a very uneventful final quarter. A good start to Paul Galvin's tenure in charge of Ratoath as they got their SFC campaign.
Ratoath - Conor Rooney; Callum Brady, Sean Brazil, John Walsh; Liam Kelly, Ben Wyer (0-1), Cian Crawford (0-1); Liam Corbett, Gavin McGowan (0-2, two-point); Eamon Wallace (1-1 one penalty), Cian Rogers (1-0), Glen O'Reilly (0-1); Bryan McMahon (0-2 one free), Daithi McGowan (0-7 two free, one two-point, one two-point free, one '45'), Ronan Byrne. Subs - Stephen McCabe for Rogers 40m, Padraig Byrne for McMahon 50m, Bobby O'Brien for Corbett, Oisin Cunningham for O'Reilly both 51m, Adam Ducie for Ronan Byrne 58m.
Ballinabrackey - Dean Pluck (0-2 one two-point free), Conor Ennis, Nicky Judge, Adam O'Brien; Richie Coffey, Sean Coffey, Mark Coffey; Leo Cullen, Niall Smullen; Danny Quinn (0-8 six frees, one two-point), Damien Carroll, David Carroll (1-0); Barry Thompson, Chris O'Connor, Sean Kavanagh (0-1). Subs - Dean Carroll for Thompson 50m, Darragh Daly for O'Connor 59m.
Referee - Kieran Olwell (Moynalty).