Ratoath need to blossom in Garden County test

LEINSTER CLUB IHC Meath champions face daunting task

Having ended their long, long wait for a SHC in their own county Ratoath seek to break new ground when they embark on their inaugural Leinster Club IHC campaign in Aughrim on Saturday (1.30pm) - but the odds, or the circumstances, don't favour them.

Mike Cole's side travel to take on Bray Emmets, a team who have become familiar to at least some players from Meath in recent years.

Some of Bray's players have played for Wicklow against Meath in the past and in 2022 the Emmets overcame Trim in the Leinster Club Intermediate final, 0-17 to 0-11. Now the the Garden County champions will be looking to get the better of Ratoath, who defeated the Trim men in the county final a few weeks ago to win the Jubilee Cup for the first time since 1963.

The Ratoath players no doubt celebrated that achievement with gusto - as they had every right to do - but now their mindsets must be attuned back to the serious task of trying to make some inroads in the provincial competition.

They will certainly need to be in the zone to get the better of a very accomplished Wicklow side. There's not only the fact they defeated Trim in the Leinster final two years ago there is also the reality that a month ago they won the Wicklow SHC - for the sixth successive year. They defeated Carnew Emmets, 0-23 to 4-8.

They might not be in the same league (who is?) of the all-conquering Ballygunner, who recently won an 11th successive Waterford SHC crown, but to bag six successive senior titles in any county context is one of those achievements that should spark alarm in the ranks of anyone hoping to do them down.

To score 23 points suggests too they have the players to land big scores from distance although they were greatly helped in chalking up their final victory over Carnew by one of their more experienced and accomplished performers - Christy Moorehouse - who helped himself to 12 points, 10 frees.

Every team needs an eagle-eyed marksman and the Bray side have such an asset in Moorehouse so Ratoath will need to be very cognisant of not coughing up needless frees - or indeed ANY frees. Moorehouse will make them pay otherwise.

Bray have a celebrated half-back line in Luke Maloney, John Henderson and Daire Henderson but the fact they conceded four goals in that county final may suggest a certain vulnerability. Can Ratoath make the most of such perceived weaknesses?

Diarmaid Masterson, Mark Lennon and Ronan McMahon are just some of the other accomplished players the Emmets can look to when they need something to get themselves to the next level.

Ratoath have, of course, their own coterie of players capable of conjuring up big plays in pressurised situations with Podge O'Hanrahan, Daithi McGowan, Jack McGowan, Cian Rogers among them them.

This, however, is a very different challenge, the task facing the Meath champions compounded by the fact they have to travel for the game. Emmets are hardened campaigners at this level and are most likely of the two teams to progress.