Goal-fest thrilling SHC decider fails to find a winner

Ratoath and Kiltale will have to go to battle again next Saturday after the sides drew at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.

Ratoath 4-16

Kiltale 3-19

60 minutes of topsy turvy, very entertaining hurling in tough conditions could not separate Ratoath and Kiltale in a goal-fest Meath SHC final on Sunday. Cian Rogers’ second goal and Ratoath’s fourth put the champions ahead by two with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Kiltale had one hand on the Jubilee Cup when Fearghal McCabe found the back of the net deep into injury time. There was still time for Ratoath to find an equaliser and it was Padraig O’Hanrahan who stepped up to the mark and forced a replay for next Saturday.

Kiltale were far stronger in the opening exchanges and two early goals helped them to a seven-point lead at the end of the first quarter. Ratoath had a nice five-minute spell midway through the first half where they outscored their opponents by 1-3 to 0-1 to reduce the gap back to two.

Between the 20th and 30th minute, the sides exchanged blows and at the interval, Kiltale led by two. Ratoath came out for the second-half with serious intent and a super Gavin McGowan goal in the 33rd minute gave them a two-point lead.

The intensity dropped slightly in the third quarter and it looked as if Ratoath were getting the upper hand. They led by three with 15 minutes remaining. Kiltale then hit four points on the spin in very quick succession to edge themselves back in front before that electric finish to the clash left both sides with the knowledge that they would have to do it all again next week.

The match got off to a lightning quick start but it was Kiltale who were making the most of the chaos and a super finish to the net from Ross Ryan put them 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after only three minutes.

Down the other end, a speculative shot from Rogers fooled everyone in the danger zone and ended up in the back of Shane McGann’s net. Kiltale bounced back straight away and in the eighth minute, they scored their second goal. This time Ross Ryan played the assist role and set up Peter Durnin.

Points from Ross Ryan, Jack Regan and Jack Bannon then put Kiltale six points to the good. McGann pulled off a super save to deny Gavin McGowan a goal before Peter Durnin increased his tally to 1-3 and at the end of the thrilling first quarter, Kiltale led 2-7 to 1-3.

Ratoath began to find their rhythm and they hit three points on the spin through a brace of Daithi McGowan points and one from Rogers. Regan kept his side ticking over before Bryan McMahon danced his way through the Kiltale defence and scored Ratoath’s second goal in the 20th minute.

Two points courtesy of Hugh O’Sullivan and Durnin put Kiltale four ahead again however, Ratoath finished out the half well and scores from Rogers and O’Hanrahan sent the sides in at the break as Kiltale led 2-12 to 2-10.

Ratoath came out after the restart, inspired by whatever was said at half-time and an O’Hanrahan free preceded a fantastic goal for Gavin McGowan. Rogers provided a super ball into the danger zone for the assist.

Regan got Kiltale going again with three points but Ratoath kept their noses in front with points from Gavin McGowan, Daithi McGowan and O’Hanrahan. At the end of the third quarter, the champions led 3-14 to 2-14.

Mark O’Sullivan had an immediate impact off the bench and he hit two fine scores as Kiltale rattled off four points to lead by one with eight minutes remaining. Rogers' second goal, which was assisted by O’Hanrahan, kick-started that super conclusion in a contest that neither side deserved to lose.

Ratoath - Colm O'Riordan; Liam Corbett, Cormac Butler, Conor McGill; Ben McGowan, Darragh Kelly, Domhnall Rogers; Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Jack McGowan; Niall McLarnon, Daithi McGowan(0-5), Padraic O'Hanrahan (0-6 five frees) ; Bryan McMahon (1-0) , Cian Rogers (2-2), Gavin McGowan (1-2). Subs - Cian Kelly (0-1) for Butler half-time, Rob Hayes for L Corbett 36m, Tomas Corbett for McLarnon 54m.

Kiltale - Shane McGann; Padraig Kelly, Iarla Hughes, Jack Bannon (0-2); Conor McNally, Philip Garvey, Conor Ryan; Brian O'Reilly, Fearghal McCabe (1-1); Adam Murphy, Hugh O'Sullivan (0-2), James Kelly; Peter Durnin (1-4), Ross Ryan (1-1), Jack Regan (0-7 three frees, one '65'). Subs - Mark O'Sullivan(0-2) for Durnin 46m, Anthony Forde for C Ryan 50m, Cathal McCabe for Murphy 56m.

Referee - Mark Reilly (Kilmessan)