REVIEW OF THE YEAR: Championships march on towards conclusions
SEPTEMBER REVIEW
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Grand National winner Silver Birch was paraded in front of a huge crowd at Gordon Elliott’s open day. INPHO/Morgan Treacy ©INPHO/Morgan TreacyImage 2 of 10
Action from the u-13 Cup final at NECSL Cup finals day in the MDL. David MullenImage 3 of 10
The Ratoath team celebrate after winning the Premier FC Div 1. David MullenImage 4 of 10
Na Fianna athlete Joe Bannon chills out after the Ratoath Half Marathon. David MullenImage 5 of 10
Ratoath AC enjoyed some European success in 2023.Image 6 of 10
Ratoath struck for a dramatic late, late goal to edge out Dunshaughlin in the SFC quarter-final.Image 7 of 10
Ronan Kearns addresses his St Patrick’s troops. David MullenImage 8 of 10
Donal Landy wins possession for St Patrick’s ahead of Sam O’Leary during the IFC clash with Duleek-Bellewstown. Gerry ShanahanImage 9 of 10
A huge crowd and great weather at Laytown races. Gerry ShanahanImage 10 of 10
Jake Murray’s dancing feet gets him away from Robinstown’s Josh Finnegan during Trim Celtic’s O’Neill Shield final. Gerry ShanahanChange can be painful and invariably it causes disruption. After six years of stability and trophies, including two All-Ireland SFC titles, Meath LGFA appointed the fourth manager to take charge of the senior county team in little over a year. Former Armagh boss Shane McCormack stepped up to the plate and accepted the challenge of getting the Royal County back on track after a spell of turbulence.
McCormack was also part of Kildare's senior football panel during Kieran McGeeney's reign as manager, making 21 appearances across all competitions.
At clube level the hurling and football championships continued to hot up with the knockout stages reached. One of the most sensational games in the quarter-final stage concerned Dunshaughlin Gaels and reigning champions Ratoath. Dunshaughlin looked to be on their way to victory but a late, late point and a goal (scored by Ben McGowan) ensured it was Ratoath who kept rolling on. Champions don't know when they are beaten do they?
Kevin Reilly's Ratoath continued on to the semi-final stage where they were again ran close. Once again they prevailed by a narrow margin defeating Wolfe Tones, 0-7 to 0-6 in what turned out to be dire contest. Did Ratoath care? Not a bit. They were hanging in there. The other SFC semi-final also proved a close affair with Summerhill just about getting the better of Donaghmore/Ashbourne, 0-10 to 0-8. Eoghan Frayne hit five points for the winners all from frees in a game that won't be recalled in years to come as a breathstopping classic.
In the IFC semi-finals Rathkenny defeated Navan O'Mahonys, 1-12 to 0-6 and Duleek/Bellewstown 1-17 to 1-9. Clann na nGael and Kilbride also ensured they would be involved in the JFC showdown.
The news wasn't as good for the reigning hurling champions Trim. They were sensationally ambushed by Ratoath in a truly rollicking, classic, end to end encounter with Podge O'Hanrahan scoring a point from an exceptionally well-executed free, taken from 45 metres out to get what proved to be the winning score. At the end Ratoath led 2-17 to 1-19.
In the IHC Navan O'Mahonys and Kildalkey won their respective semi-finals overcoming Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Kilskrye/Moylagh respectively. One of the most significant aspects of those results was that Kildalkey were still on course to achieve a once-in-lifetime, truly rare treble. Surely they couldn't win the senior, intermediate and junior hurling championships in one year? Could they?