Goal hungry Dunshaughlin stun favourites Ratoath

Goal blitzes in the opening and closing quarters proved decisive as hugely impressive Dunshaughlin stormed into the SFC semi-finals with a rousing 4-9 to 0-15 victory over Ratoath in Pairc Tailteann this evening.

Ratoath troubled the scoreboard operator on more occasions than their opponents, but a brace of goals from the electric Luke Mitchell and superb finishes from Mathew Costello and Conor Duke ensured Dunshaughlin were victorious.

After suffering the heartbreak of losing out to Ratoath with a last second goal in last year's quarter-final, Dunshaughlin were determined not to suffer the same fate this time around.

They started like a whirlwind and while Ratoath were far from their fluid best Dunshaughlin took full advantage and were probably more comfortable than the six-point winning margin suggests.

Concerns that Ratoath, who scored eight goals in their final group game against Rathkenny, would stretch Dunshaughlin's rearguard proved unfounded as Tim O'Sullivan didn't really have a save to make behind his well-organised and manful defence.

That defensive resolve was a 15-man effort with everyone putting their shoulder to the wheel to limit Ratoath and force them into some very wayward shooting from distance.

With a staunch defence to build on Dunshaughlin had the platform to cut loose in attack and while only two of them scored more than once it was the devastating return of 3-8 between Luke Mitchell and Mathew Costello that proved crucial.

Dunshaughlin pinpointed a number of areas to attack Ratoath and the long ball into the heart of their defence was priority number one - and it worked a treat.

It took less than a minute for Dunshaughlin to unlock Ratoath's rearguard with Costello's long, probing ball drifting in behind Conor McGill and falling into the hands of Mitchell who finished brilliantly.

Points from Mitchell and Costello (free) sandwiched a reply from Ratoath's best player Jack Flynn, but in the 13th minute Dunshaughlin benefitted from a stroke of luck when referee David Coldrick missed two hops by Aaron Murphy before he set up Mitchell for his and Dunshaughlin's second goal.

With a seven-point cushion Dunshaughlin managed the rest of the half superbly with Costello (free) and Murphy trading scores with McMahon and Daithi McGowan (two, one free) to lead 2-4 to 0-4 at half-time.

Frees from Costello and Mitchell stretched Dunshaughlin's lead within four minutes of the restart. McMahon responded for Ratoath but Dunshaughlin continued to threaten goals as Conor Duke hit the post.

Ratoath gave themselves hope with four of the next five points from Eamon Wallace, Glen O'Reilly (free), Flynn and Cian Rogers in response to a Costello free to close the gap to 0-9 to 2-7 early in the final quarter.

Costello and Rogers exchanged points before Dunshaughlin then put the game to bed when Costello rounded Cian O'Farrell for his side's third goal and then two minutes later Duke palmed to the net to make it 4-8 to 0-10.

Ratoath needed goals, but the clearcut chances never arose and even though O'Reilly (free), Flynn ('45'), Joey Wallace and Rogers added points it was wasn't enough as Mitchell and Joey Wallace exchanged the closing points before Dunshaughlin celebrated their sweet revenge and immediately turned their focus to a semi-final.

Dunshaughlin - Tim O'Sullivan; Niall Byrne, Daryl McKenna, Ben Duggan; Ciaran McCarrick, Jared Rushe, Adam Kealy; Charlie O'Connor, Conor Gray; David Fildes, Ruairi Kinsella, Conor Duke (1-0); Aaron Murphy (0-1), Mathew Costello (1-5 four frees), Luke Mitchell (2-3 two frees). Subs - John McDonagh for McKenna 45m, Fursey Blake for Fildes 52m, Tommy Kinsella for Duke, Neil Byrne for Murphy both 60m.

Ratoath - Cian O'Farrell; Ben Wyer, Conor McGill, Sean Brazil; Brian Daly, Liam Kelly, Eamon Wallace (0-1); Jack Flynn (0-3 one '45'), Cian O'Brien; Pauric Byrne, Daithi McGowan (0-2 frees), Glen O'Reilly (0-2 frees); Conor Rooney, Cian Rogers (0-3), Bryan McMahon (0-2). Subs - Ciaran O Fearraigh for Byrne, Joey Wallace (0-2) for Rooney both half-time, Darragh Kelly for O'Brien 41m, Keith McCabe for McGill, Ben McGowan for Daly both 56m.

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).