Ratoath ease into the knockout stages

Ratoath became the first team to book their place in the SFC knockout stages as they defeated last year's semi-finals Wolfe Tones by 4-13 to 2-11 in Pairc Tailteann this evening.

Joey Wallace was in mesmerising form for the winners and finished with 2-4 to his credit, but it was the all-round emphatic nature of Ratoath's display that ensured they won at their leisure.

There were times when the looked like taking their eye of the prize, but every time Wolfe Tones got lulled into a false sense of security Ratoath pounced with a sucker punch.

After failing to make the most of their early dominance Ratoath found themselves 0-2 to 0-4 adrift at the end of the first quarter, but then Joey Wallace stepped up and scored a superb goal to settle his side.

Five minutes later Wallace turned provider as he set up Connell Ahearne for Ratoath's second goal and a 2-6 to 0-5 interval lead.

That advantage was stretched to 2-11 to 0-6 within eight minutes of the restart, but then Wolfe Tones threatened a recovery with a Stephen Sheppard goal.

Conor Rooney quelled that rebellion with Ratoath's third goal, but Wolfe Tones came out fighting again and hit four of the next five points before Sheppard's second goal with six minutes remaining left them just 2-10 to 3-12 adrift.

However, that was as good as it got for Tones as Ratoath upped the tempo again and wrapped up the win with a second mmagical goal from Wallace that secured their passage into the quatter-finals with a game in hand.

 

Check out Tuesday night's Meath Chronicle for full match report and reaction from Ratoath manager Fergie Power.