Ratoath improve in second-half and claim victory
Ratoath fashioned a sparkling second-half display that was sufficient to eclipse Gaeil Colmcille in the SFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann this evening by 2-14 to 1-10.
That second-half was in stark contrast to an abysmal first-half when Ratoath hardly rasied a canter.
The low-key intensity of the opening exchanges saw Gaeil Colmcille impose their authority on the game and they eventually established a 1-6 to 0-5 interval advantage with Marty Barrett making a major contribution.
Two wides and a point from three chances was Gaeil Colmcille's retrun for four minutes compared to one point from one chance for Ratoath in the same period as Ben McGowan and Brian Hanlon (free) traded scores.
The Gaeil Colmcille goal arrived in the 19th minute and it was Barrett who started the move that finished with Oisin Reilly palming to the net.
The Gaeil Colmcille points were claimed by a brace (one free) from Seamus Mattimoe, Hanlon, Reilly and one from blood substitute Conal Courtney before he was called ashore.
Ratoath were well of the pace and had two Joey Wallace point to their credit by the 20th minute, but were boosted by a late flourish as Bryan McMahon (free) and Conor Rooney sent over and that reduced the deficit to four points at the interval.
Whatever manager Davy Byrne said in the dressing room at half-time had the required impact and it was if
Ratoath had rocket propulsion for the second-half.
They reeled off six unanswered points in an ine-minute blitz that gave them the lead (0-11 to 1-6) as brothers Eamonn and Joey Wallace played some great football and sharwed four points. Conor Rooney and Ben McGowan also sent over.
Gaeil Colmcille got back to parity from a barce of Hanlon pointed frees, but they were rocked when Cian O'Brien finished to then net from a high centre by Eamonn Wallace.
Gaeil Colmcille came back a second time with points from Evan Sheridan and Mattimoe (free)at the end of the third-quarter, but they didn't score for the remainder.
Joey Wallace increased Ratoath's lead and then Bryan McMahon converted a free, but the final nail was provided by Daithi McGowan who claimed Ratoath's second goal near the end.
It all got too much for Gaeil Colmcille and they finished with 14 when Barry Tormay picked up a red card and Ratoath closed the scoring through Joey Wallace.