KILTALE……………………………..3-19 (28)

RATOATH……………………………4-16 (28)

Reigning champs Ratoath will have a second shot at retaining the Jubilee Cup after they shared the spoils with Kiltale in that rarest of events,  a county final classic, in Pairc  Tailteann. The title holders found themselves 1-2 to 0-1 ahead after three minutes, Ross Ryan fresh from his heroics last Sunday with Summerhill raising the games first green flag. Gavin McGowan replied instantly with Ratoath’s first goal but by the 7th minute Kiltale were in for their second goal courtesy of Peter Durnin, but then near end of the first quarter McGowan was in again for a second goal and the lead was down to two 2-8 to 2-6.

At the break Kiltale were 2-12 to 2-10 in front. Early in the second half Cian Rogers goaled for the holders and McGowan then nailed his hat trick to his side ahead by two deep into injury time but Kiltale showed incredible spirit to claw the deficit back Fergal McCabe’s goal the crucial score.

It was a game of high tension with both teams deserving another cut for the Ted Murtagh sponsored Jubilee Cup. No-0ne was leaving in the Navan and credit goes to the two teams for producing a spectacle on day that poured for much of the day and may have left many watching the game on Clubber or listening on the radio. The referee let the game flow and he and his team were part of the reason it was a good flowing game. roll on the replay and all to play for.

Kiltale – Shane McGann, Padraig Kelly, Iarla Hughes, Jack Bannon (0-2), Conor McNally, Philip Garvey, Conor Ryan, Brian O’Reilly, Fearghal McCabe (1-1), Adam Murphy, Hugh O’Sullivan (0-2), James Kelly, Peter Durnin (1-4), Ross Ryan (1-1), Jack Regan (0-7). Subs – Mark O’Sullivan (0-2), Anthony Forde, Cathal McCabe

Ratoath: Colm O’Riordan; Liam Corbett, Cormac Butler, Conor McGill, Ben McGowan, Darragh Kelly, Domhnall Rogers, Ciaran O’Hanrahan, Jack McGowan, Niall McLarnon, Daithi McGowan (0-5), Padraic O’Hanrahan (0-6), Bryan McMahon (1-0), Cian Rogers (1-2), Gavin McGowan (3-2). Subs – Cian Kelly (0-1, Rob Hayes, Tomas Corbett.

Referee Mark Reilly

Bryan McMahon (Ratoath), Brian O’Reilly (Kiltale) and Ciaran O’Hanrahan (Ratoath) during the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Ratoath v Kitale SHC Final game at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, County Meath. Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net 19/10/2025