Ratoath see off Reds with ease

Ratoath laid down a marker with their second successive impressive SFC victory on Friday evening in Dunganny.

Ratoath 3-2-11 (24)

Trim 0-1-8 (10)

There was nothing flashy about Ratoath's wide-margin win over Trim in the SFC on Friday evening in Dunganny. Kevin Daly’s side impressively went about their business well, limited the main threats from the opposition, worked their scores nicely and won with plenty in hand which was more than enough to send out a statement of intent across the county.

Trim only trailed by a point at the end of the first quarter before Ratoath opened up a gap with a goal and a two-pointer from the boot of Daithi McGowan. Due to circumstances in the build-up, there was an element of fortune about Ratoath’s first goal and it separated the sides on the scoreboard at the break after Ken Robinson’s side finished out the half well.

Ratoath put a strong squeeze on the Trim kick-outs after the restart and that paid huge dividends as last year’s finalists outscored the ‘Reds’ by 1-6 to 0-2 in the third quarter. An Aaron Lynch free was all that Trim could muster in the last 15 minutes and by the time Cian Rogers found the net in injury-time for Ratoath’s third major, the contest had already been well and truly put to bed by the Dublin border club.

Two late additions to the Ratoath starting 15, Eamon Wallace and Oisin Kelly registered two early points before Rob Hayes put the eventual winners three ahead after six minutes. Trim got off the mark when Lynch slotted over a free before Adam Ducie and Tom Carmody traded scores.

Ducie who received his Leaving Cert results earlier on that day had a fantastic chance for a goal in the 14th minute but his volley effort went right of the posts. Lynch’s second free reduced the gap back to one at the end of the first quarter.

In the 21st minute, Trim had a free out deep in their own territory. It did appear that they were not afforded the four-metre allowance for a solo and go before Ratoath intercepted overturned possession. McGowan took full advantage and rattled the ball to the roof of the Trim net with a cracking finish. There was nothing contentious about McGowan’s superb two-pointer two minutes later which gave the men in blue and yellow a seven-point lead after 23 minutes.

Despite that setback, Trim finished out the first-half well and a nice two-pointer from Carmody was added to by points from Alan Douglas and Aaron Lynch. At the break, McGowan’s goal separated the sides as Ratoath led 1-7 to 0-7.

Momentum shifted strongly in Ratoath’s favour after the restart but they did have a couple of early wides before Wallace’s fantastic two-pointer in the 35th minute set the tone for what was to come. Carmody pulled a point back for Trim two minutes later but in the space of five minutes Ratoath rattled off 1-4 on the spin.

Ducie’s point in the 38th minute gave Ratoath a five-point cushion before Rogers gave a great ball into Bryan McMahon who slotted past Eoin O’Reilly for Ratoath’s second goal. Points from Liam Kelly, Daithi McGowan and Glenn O’Reilly followed as the eventual winners pulled further clear of their opponents.

After a Douglas effort dropped short, Eoin O’Connor fisted over a point for Trim but at the end of the third quarter Ratoath were comfortably ahead by 2-13 to 0-9. In the 49th minute, a nice move that included good link-up play from Wallace, Rogers and Cian O’Brien was polished off when Ducie registered his third point.

Lynch then slotted over his fourth point which transpired to be Trim’s last before Wallace orchestrated a nice move and kicked a lovely pass to the industrious Paddy White who added his name to the scoresheet.

In injury time at either end, McGowan and Lynch both missed opportunities for goals but Rogers did find the net in the 62nd minute to put the icing on the cake for Ratoath.

Ratoath: Devon Burns; Ben Wyer (0-1), Conor McGill, Liam Kelly (0-1); Rob Hayes (0-1), Eamon Wallace (0-4 one two-pointer), Gavin McGowan; Ben McGowan, Oisin Kelly (0-1); Glenn O’Reilly (0-1), Daithi McGowan (1-3 one two-pointer), Paddy White (0-1); Bryan McMahon (1-0), Cian Rogers (1-0), Adam Ducie (0-3). Subs: Cian O’Brien for O’Reilly 45m, Joey Wallace for McMahon 47m, Brian Daly for Hayes, Darragh Kelly for O Kelly both 51m, Aidan Murray for Ducie 58m.

Trim: Eoin O’Reilly; Conor McGinley, Brian Bolger, Padraig Walsh; Cathal O’Reilly, Ciaran Caulfield, Eoin Sweeney; David Lernihan, Ian Birmingham; Tom Carmody (0-5 one two-pointer), James Murray, Daire Lynch; Eoin O’Connor (0-1), Alan Douglas (0-1), Aaron Lynch (0-4 three frees). Subs: Sean Foley for D Lynch half-time, Charlie O’Connor for Sweeney 39m, Ian Byrne for Douglas 51m.

Referee: Derek Ryan (Na Fianna).