Relieved Ratoath survive tough Na Fianna test

A dominant display in the third quarter helped Ratoath earn a hard-fought win over Na Fianna in Dunganny on Friday.

Ratoath 1-22

Na Fianna 2-13

When Na Fianna found the back of the net at the end of the first quarter, champions Ratoath knew they had a game on their hands but a strong performance in the third-quarter where Andy Dermody’s side outscored their SHC opponents 0-9 to 0-2 was pivotal to their victory in Dunganny on Friday.

The battle around the midfield was hard fought, Ethan Devine and Anthony Healy won a lot of crucial ball for Na Fianna in the first-half as the Enfield side took advantage of the strong breeze blowing in their favour. A brace of Rory Fagan goals ensured Na Fianna held a four-point advantage at the break.

Ratoath took a stronghold after the interval and brought serious intensity to the third quarter. Brother’s Podge and Ciaran O’Hannarahn linked up well on several occasions and the former finished with a fine tally of 1-9, 1-5 from play. Sean Murphy’s work rate was also key and with 15 minutes left the champions led by three points. They closed out the game well in what was a relieving win for the side going for three Keegan Cups in a row.

Podge O’Hanrahan laid down a marker early on, he had the advantage anyway when he struck for a well-taken goal after being set up by Rob Hayes in the fourth minute. The sharpshooter then followed up with a nice point to give Ratoath a 1-2 to 0-1 lead after six minutes. A point from Oisin Bright and a long-range free hit by Peter Slevin kept Na Fianna in touch.

A nice move that started with Darragh Kelly dispossessing Na Fianna on his own ‘45’ was finished nicely when Ciaran O’Hanrahan split the posts. However, Na Fianna responded well and in quick succession, points from the midfield duo of Healy and Devine came either side of Fagan’s first goal where he strlled through the Ratoath defence and finished well past Colm O’Riordan.

Jonathan McCloskey made two great saves in the 19th and 20th minute to deny Hayes and Gavin McGowan. Na Fianna continued to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them and moved four points clear with points from Bright, Devine and Slevin.

Podge O’Hanrahan slotted over his easiest free of the day right in front of the posts which came about after some dissent from the Na Fianna line. A long-range shot from Devine that dropped short was not dealt with well by Riordan and after a mini-scramble, Fagan back-healed the sliotar over the line for Na Fianna’s second goal. A brace of points from Ben McGowan late on left Dermody’s side trailing at the break by 1-8 to 2-9.

Soon after the restart, Slevin split the posts with another long-range free but it was quickly cancelled out by Podge O’Hanrahan. Ciaran O’Hanrahan then set up his brother for a second point in quick succession before he slotted over himself to reduce the gap back to two.

Slevin put three points between the sides again before Ratoath completely seized momentum. Between the 39th and 44th minute, Ratoath scored six points on the spin. Three of those scores came from the hurl of Podge O’Hanrahan while Gavin McGowan, Liam Kelly and Cian Rogers also made contributions.

Bright settled the ship for Na Fianna with a badly needed score in the 46th minute. Two minutes later there was some confusion over whether a Ratoath shot had taken a deflection on the way out or not but eventually the officials awarded a ‘65’ and Podge O’Hanrahan slotted over to put Ratoath clear by three points with 10 minutes left.

Substitutes Eoin Flanagan and Jack Lanigan kept Ratoath ticking over with scores in the closing stages. Na Fianna had a late chance for a goal but Slevin’s attempted shot from a short range free was blocked. Down the other end, McCloskey pulled off another fine save to deny Daithi McGowan and soon after Kevin Brady’s full-time whistle confirmed the win for Ratoath.

Ratoath: Colm O’Riordan; Liam Kelly (0-1), Sean Murphy, Conor McGill; Ben McGowan (0-2), Darragh Kelly, Niall McLarnon; Ciaran O’Hanrahan (0-2), Jack McGowan; Rob Hayes, Padraig O’Hanrahan (1-9 three frees, one ‘65’), Sean O’Hanrahan; Gavin McGowan (0-3), Cian Rogers (0-2), Daithi McGowan (0-1). Subs: Eoin Flanagan (0-1) for S O’Hanrahan 54m, Jack Lanigan (0-1) for Hayes 56m, Tom Fadden for McLarnon 59m.

Na Fianna: Jonathan McCloskey; Sean Coffey (0-1), Stephen Slevin, Cian Doherty; Shane Jordan, Peter Slevin (0-5 frees), Conor Cummins; Anthony Healy (0-1), Ethan Devine (0-2); Oisin Bright (0-3), Eimhin Flynn, Michael Heffernan; Eoin Bright, Rory Fagan (2-1), Alex Healy. Subs: Finn Witchlow for Fagan 48m.

Referee: Kevin Brady (Louth).