Ballivor buzzing after impressive performance

Ratoath played all the nice football, but Ballivor won the game. A simple summary from this entertaining and absorbing JFC encounter at Summerhill on Sunday evening. From Ratoath's perspective, the damage incurred by this reversal is minimal and all they have to do is avoid defeat in their final group game against neighbours Kilbride to secure a place in the last eight. Against a background like that, the stakes were not too high on Sunday evening, but that didn't detract from the competitive nature of the contest. There was nothing between the teams for the opening half and they went in on level terms at the break (1-3 to 0-6) with the lively Padraig Geoghegan finding the net for Ballivor close to the interval. Ballivor were virtually all over the place in the early stages of that opening half as a slick-looking Ratoath side split the posts through Robert Madden (three), Gareth Rooney, Patrick Haslam and Emmet Boyle. Ballivor's problems were reflected by a return of two points for 26 minutes, Adam Gannon and Mairtin Doran, before Geoghegan turned on the life support with that goal. Geoghegan then made the opening for Doran who drew the sides level on the stroke of half-time. Ballivor shuffled the pack for the second-half, but when Ratoath were gifted a soft goal it looked ominous. Rooney finished to the net after Ballivor goalie Kevin McKeown misjudged the bounce of the ball and it rebounded off the post. It was a comical goal, but it had a positive impact on Ballivor who raised their performance and after trailing by 1-4 to 1-9 at the three-quarter stage got back into contention. Geoghegan was the pivotal player. He was involved in most of the attacks and when Derek Doran was introduced at midfield and Paul Kelly moved into attack, Ratoath were in trouble. Geoghegan made the opening and Kelly netted with 14 minutes remaining. Derek Doran made an opening and Francis Doran pointed to leave the minimum in it. Ballivor were buzzing and another substitute, Edward Kirby found the net with practically his first touch for a 3-5 to 1-10 advantage. That sealed Ratoath's fate and they offered nothing for the remainder as Ballivor added some insurance points and eased into the knock-out zone. At the moment it looks like they will face Donaghmore / Ashbourne in the quarter-finals, but Meath Hill are not out of the frame either. Ratoath look like they will face near neighbours Dunsany who were well represented at Summerhill as they prepare to complete their qualifying campaign against St Brigid's. Ballivor - K McKeown; K Keoghan, T Fox, B McLoughlin; D Raleigh, B Perry, C Canavan; J McLoughlin, P Kelly (1-0); F Doran (0-1), P Geoghegan (1-0), T Raleigh; A Gannon (0-4), M Doran (0-2), R Sherrock. Subs - D Doran (0-1) for T Raleigh 45 mins, E Kirby (1-0) for Sherrock 50m. Ratoath - A Smith; D McGill, P Flaherty, S O'Brien; M Conmey, P Kirwan, N Horgan; K Brady, C O'Brien; P Haslam (0-1), E Boyle (0-1), G Eiffe; B O'Brien (0-1), G Rooney (1-1), R Madden (0-6 four frees, one '45'). Subs - L Browne for Haslam 50 mins, F Coyne for Eiffe 55m. Referee - Seamus O'Connor (Carnaross).