Ratoath …….. 0-11
Rhode ……….. 0-9
In this Pairc Tailteann triumph. Ratoath broke something of a hoodoo when they became the first Meath team to defeat Rhode in this competition, managing what Skryne, Simonstown and Navan O’ Mahonys previously failed to do.
A five point salvo early in the second period was the decisive scoring burst that saw David Bradys side home.
The winners savvy showed in how they managed the loss of Eamon Wallace to a 47th minute black card conceding just two points in his 10-minute absence.
Rhode relied far too heavily on Niall McNamee’s accuracy the veteran attacker being responsible for all but two of Rhode’s tally. Aaron Kelleghan and midfielder Conor McNamee got the others,
Ratoath’s better spread of scorers was a major plus as they advanced to play Westmeath champions, The Downs in the semi final.
Scorers:
Ratoath – Daithi McGowan 0-3 (2fs); Eamon Wallace 0-2; Keith McCabe 0-2; Cian O’Brien 0-1; Bryan McMahon 0-1 (mark); Cian Rogers 0-1 (f); Jack Flynn 0-1 (f).
Rhode – Niall McNamee 0-7 (6fs, 1 mark); Conor McNamee 0-1; Aaron Kelleghan 0-1.
Ratoath – Darragh McPartlin; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Conor McGill (c), Ben Wyer; Brian Daly, Eamon Wallace, Gavin McGowan; Daithi McGowan, Ben McGowan; Cian Rogers, Jack Flynn, Keith McCabe; Bobby O’Brien, Cian O’Brien, Bryan McMahon. Subs – Padraig Byrne for McCabe (51), Andrew Gerrard for Daly (57), Conor Rooney for B O’Brien (61).
Rhode – Kenneth Garry; Gareth McNamee, Jake Kavanagh, James McFadden; Dylan Kavanagh, Brian Darby, Keith Murphy; Conor McNamee, Alan McNamee; Anton Sullivan, Ruairi McNamee, Ciaran Heavey; Paraic Sullivan, Aaron Kelleghan, Niall McNamee. Subs – Stephen Hannon for P Sullivan (ht), Darren Garry for Heavey (39), Paul McPadden for G McNamee (48), Shane Sullivan for A McNamee (62).
Referee – Seamus Mulhare (Laois).
