Ratoath cruise to victory over struggling Na Fianna
Last year's finalists had 11 different scorers in their Meath SHC round two win.
Ratoath 3-25
Na Fianna 0-12
Ratoath did not have to exert themselves too heavily to secure a wide-margin victory over Na Fianna in a one-sided round two clash in the Meath SHC at Batterstown on Friday. The early exchanges were cagey enough and there was only one point between them after 10 minutes. That was as close as Na Fianna got though as last year’s finalists rattled off 1-6 without reply between the 12th and 18th minute to put themselves nine points ahead at an early stage writes Tom Gannon.
Ratoath held a 1-14 to 0-6 lead at halftime. The rain came at half-time and the second-half was a tough watch. The competitive edge didn’t hang around for long. Even though Ratoath shifted down to second or possibly first gear for most of the second-half, they still managed to rack up 2-11 for good measure. It was a fine scoring display by the men in blue and yellow with 11 different players getting on the scoresheet.
Gavin McGowan opened the scoring for Ratoath having won back possession of the sliotar deep in Na Fianna territory. Rory Fagan, who scored 0-10 of Na Fianna’s total of 0-12, replied almost immediately.
Points from Niall McLarnon and Jack Lanigan gave Ratoath a two-point advantage following 10 minutes of play. A McLarnon score in the 12th minute commenced a tough period for Na Fianna. Two points from McLarnon alongside points from O’Hanrahan and Daithi McGowan put Ratoath five points to the good.
Then came the real sucker blow for the men from Enfield. Cian Rogers linked up with Gavin McGowan before bursting through the Na Fianna defence. There was no stopping Rogers’ low and hard bullet as the green flag was raised for Ratoath’s first goal. A minute later, Sean Corbett would add his name to the scoresheet
The rest of the first-half was a bit more competitive but Na Fianna failed to make any inroads into Ratoath’s lead. Na Fianna only managed three more points before Mark Reilly's halftime whistle, all of which were courtesy of Rory Fagan. The last two came either side of two Ratoath scores from Padraig Byrne and McLarnon. With the last puck of the half, O’Hanrahan sent Ratoath into the break with an 11-point advantage.
A well-struck Fagan 65’ got the scoring underway in the second half. Ratoath replied straight away with a point courtesy of the reliable O’Hanrahan before Gavin McGowan discarded any hope Na Fianna had left with a second goal. Cornerback Liam Kelly got in on the action and his score left Ratoath 15 points in front.
Fagan grabbed one back for the Enfield side with his seventh point. However, Ratoath ruthlessly responded to Fangan’s score with three of their own. Two of which came from the goalscorers, McGowan and Rogers.
From then on, Na Fianna only managed to score four points, three from Fagan and one from midfielder Ronan Byrne. At this stage, Mark Lynch's side had nothing left to give to the clash. Four further points from O’Hanrahan along with scores from Lanigan and Rogers only served to add to an already massive gap.
Na Fianna’s Kean Flynn was shown the line for a second yellow offence before Ronan Byrne wrapped up proceedings with a third Ratoath goal.
TEAMS AND SCORERS
Ratoath- Colm O’Riordan; Domhnall Rogers, Conor McGill, Cian Kelly(0-1); Niall Murphy(0-1), Jack Lanigan(0-2), Cormac Butler; Padraig O’Hanrahan(0-9 six frees), Niall McLarnon(0-4); Daithi McGowan(0-1), Cian Rogers(1-2), Jack McGowan; Gavin McGowan(1-3), Sean Corbett(0-1), Padraic Byrne(0-1). Subs – Darragh Kelly for Jack McGowan 39m, Sam Coughlan for Murphy 42m, Ronan Byrne (1-0) for Corbett 50m, Tom Fadden for McGill 55m
Na Fianna – Adam Farrell; Eoin Coffey, Luke Kelly, Cian Doherty; Anthony Healy, Peter Slevin(0-1), Evan Mullaly; Ronan Byrne(0-1), Oisin Bright; Rory Fagan(0-10 five frees, one 65’), Kean Flynn, Micheal Heffernan; Stephen Slevin, Patrick Jordan, Will Flynn. Subs – Alex Healy for Coffey 23m, Eoin Bright for Jordan 40m, Jack Hanley for Steven Slevin 57m.
Referee – Mark Reilly