Minor title for Ratoath

Ratoath won the MFC title in the curtainraiser today at Páirc Tailteann with a merited 2-12 to 0-12 victory over Na Fianna in an exciting decider.

This was a second successive defeat in the decider for Na Fianna as they lost last year to St Colmcille's and despite making a bright start, were out of luck in today's encounter.

Shane Walsh had Na Fianna on the scoreboard with a first minute point, but Ratoath countered with points by Cian Rogers, Nathan Dunne and Daithi McGowan to establish a 0-3 to to 0-1 advantage by the fourth minute.

Ratoath then got through for a well worked goal from Ryan Kelly who finished smartly after McGowan provided the final pass following a fluent move.

Na Fianna were reeling at that stage, but displayed admirable composure and got back into the game with points from Sean Martin and Kevin Coffey.

Rogers sent a Ratoath goal chance skimming over the bar and Na Fianna found a response with a fine Walsh point that left the Baconstown /Enfield combination adrift by 0-4 to 1-4 at the end of the first-quarter.

Ratoath remained in the ascendancy and the impressive Rogers added three more points (frees) while Tom Fadden also split the posts, but Na Fianna finished the half with a flourish and added points from Walsh (free) and Jack McNally.

Na Fianna trailed by 0-6 to 1-8 at the interval, but they were also relieved when Conor Heffernan made a brave save that denied Fadden a goal close to the interval.

Na Fianna upped the tempo in the second-half and on two occasions got the deficit down to a goal, but they were unable to reel in the Ratoath lads who always found a little bit extra.

That was demonstrated near the end when Na Fianna's Luke Kelly was denied a goal by a super Daragh McPartlin save after which Ratoath sealed victory through substitute Sean Johnson's goal after Connell Aheare and Fadden combined to make the opening.

The Na Fianna second-half points were scored by Walsh (three frees), Jack McNally (two) and Kean Flynn while Ratoath sent over through Rogers (two), Johnson and McGowan.