Dramatic late win for Ratoath
Ratoath's Darragh Kelly sent over a late point to secure a dramatic 1-21 to 3-14 SHC victory against Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann this evening.
The game finished in a flurry of scores with plenty of talking points as well as points on the scoreboard and a few disciplinary points as well due to the number of yellow cards flashed by referee Richard Morris.
Ratoath completely dominated the opening half, but a late goal for Dunboyne from Niall Smyth saw a substantial lead reduced to seven points (1-4 to 0-13).
It was a torrid opening half for Dunboyne who went all of 22 minutes without a score after a bright opening that saw Darragh Finlay, Darragh Gilmartin (free) and Sean McGrath hit early points.
Gilmartin pointed another free in the 29th minute and then Smyth hit that all-important goal.
However, the opening half was all about Ratoath with Padraig Byrne pulling the strigs at midfield as the points flowed.
Gavin McGowan and Sean O'Hanrahan claimed four each while Daithi McGowan, Niall Murphy, Cian Kelly, O'Byrne and Tadgh McCann also registered.
However, there was a different complexion to the second-half as the sides traded early points through O'Hanrahan for Ratoath and Gilmartin.
The interval introduction of Micheal Dunne gave Dunboyne an extra edge and he flashed the sliotar to the net in the 35th minute following a long pass from Stephen Moran.
Ratoath worked hard to maintain the initiative with O'Hanrahan addine to his tally with three more points while Gavin McGowan also sent over.
Dunboyne displayed great character and kept picking of the points through Darragh Gilmartin and Neil Hackett (two each), McGrath, Smyth and substitute Conor Gilmartin for parity (0-18 to 2-12) with six minutes remaining.
Dunboyne had their tails up and points from Dunne and Darragh Gilmartin gave them the lead, but Ratoath countered
for level terms from O'Hanrahan and Darragh Kelly.
Gavin McGowan then created an opening for a Darragh Gilmartin goal before a point attempt was waved wide and
Dunboyne found the net at the other end when Dunne scrambled the sliotar to the net.
Level again at 1-20 to 3-14, Ratoath found one more score when Kelly sent over a mighty point to seal the victory.