Ratoath earn merited win against neighbours

Ratoath recorded a deserved SFC victory over neighbours Donaghmore / Ashbourne at Pairc Tailteann this evening by 0-11 to 0-8.

Ratoath took most of the opening quarter to find any fluency and at that stage they trailed by 0-0 to 0-2 after Stephen Carton and goalkeeper Andrew Colgan converetd frees for Donaghmore / Ashbourne in what was a low key affair up to that point.

However, Ratoath then found some form and reeled off six unanswered points from Daithi McGowan and Aidan Murray (two each), Conor Rooney and Brian O'Connor.

At the other end Carton sent over a first point from play for Donaghmore / Ashbourne to which Ratoath found a quick response from Conall Ahearne for a 0-7 to 0-3 interval advantage.

Donaghmore / Ashbourne resumed the second-half with a flourish that yielded points from Carton (two) and Thomas McGovern.

Carton had a goal chance also following a poor kick-out from Shane Duffy, but the 'keeper made amends with a good save.

Ratoath countered those early Donaghmore / Ashbourne scores with pointed frees from Ahearne (two) and Daithi McGowan, but they also dropped a number of efforts short into the hands of a grateful Colgan.

Andrew Tormey sent over two late frees, but Ahearne was on the mark at the other end with a point from a free that was moved foward.