Na Fianna battle back - but it's all in vain as Ratoath progress

Behind by seven points early in the second-half of the SHC Group A tie against St Peter's at Trim today Na Fianna battled back to earn a draw but it wasn't enough to earn them a place in the quarter-finals.

Instead it was Ratoath who progress to the knock-out stage. They lost Kildalkey today (2-14 to 1-23) and finished with the same number of points as Na Fianna but had a marginally better scoring difference.

St Peter's could also have done with a win today as the draw means they will go down to Group B for next year. They chalked up just a draw from their five games played.

It was all very frantic at Trim today with St Peter's putting in a strong opening half display to lead 1-11 to 1-4 at the interval.

They continued to lead for much of the second-half but Mike Cole's Na Fianna kept battling back and edged a point ahead as the game slipped into injury time.

However Darragh Kilmartin converted from a late free to leave the sides level where they stayed, 2-15 to 1-18.

Sean McGrath netted for Dunboyne while Will Flynn and Ethan Devine raised green flags for Na Fianna but the draw wasn't a whole lot of good to either side. Victory was what was required.

SCORERS

St Peter's - Darragh Gilmartin 0-6 two frees; Sean McGrath 1-2 one free; Jack Cox 0-3; Michael Dunne 0-2 frees; Sean Quigley 0-2 one free; Michael O'Grady 0-1; Keith Doyle 0-1; Eoghan McCormach 0-1.

Na Fianna - Mark Slevin 0-5 four frees; Rory Fagan 0-4 three frees; Ethan Devine 1-0; Sean Martin 0-2; Shane Walsh 0-2; Ronan Byrne 0-1; Oisin McCloskey 0-1.

Match analysis and photographs from game in next issue of the Meath Chronicle