Ratoath pass severe Rhode test

They waited a long time to win their first Meath SFC, eventually climbing the mountain in 2019. Today at Pairc Tailteann Ratoath chalked up another significant achievement when they defeated Rhode 0-11 to 0-9 to chalk up their first ever victory in the Leinster Club SFC.

Now an intriguing second round clash with The Downs awaits.

These are heady days indeed for Ratoath footballers; halycon days. They just about deserved victory too on Sunday. Once more their ability to create space and opportunities with their movement was a big factor.

Then there was their ability to off-load quickly and at speed (added to their propensity to convert chances). These too proved big factors in ensuring they got across the line.

The statistics tell a story. Five Ratoath players scored from play; two managed the same feat for Rhode. In all eight players notched scores for the Meath champions; just three for their opponents.

Ratoath's power, their verve and enterprise in attack is a fundamental cornerstone of their recent progress - and it proved to be a vital factor in carving out a win on Sunday.

This was a scrappy, messy encounter. It was hard hitting too and Ratoath could have paid a hefty price for some indiscipline but they didn't on this occasion. They survived to live another day. Eamonn Wallace's black card on 46 minutes was the punishment for a needless foul.

During his absence his team conceded the initiative. When he left the field Ratoath led by two when he arrived back their lead was only a point but the Offaly side were clearly in the ascendancy.

At this level a card of any colour could be very costly indeed. At one stage in the second-half Ratoath were awarded a free in front of the Rhode posts but Conor McGill nudged an opponent. The referee opted to throw the ball up instead. Rhode cleared. Again a needless concession of ground.

Such incidents aside this was a mature display by the Meath champions who had to be mentally strong to overcome a Rhode outfit who knows how to operate at this level. They are streetwise and smart.

Rhode arrived in Pairc Tailteann with a fearsome reputation. They have been one of the dominant teams in Offaly football for years now.

They are experienced campaigners in Leinster but they are a considerably older team than Ratoath (the average age was said to be 32) and perhaps one of the reasons they fell away towards the end was because the legs simply started to lose some of their zip. Time and tide and all that.

Ratoath, a side with a potent combination of youth and experience, trailed 0-4 to 0-5 at the interval. They had loads of possession in that opening half, holding onto the ball very well, passing it from one to another, until an opening presented itself. All too often however, promising moves broke down.

On other occasions the patient, composed approach work bore fruit with Wallace, Daithi McGown, Keith McCabe and Bobby O'Brien all finishing off moves by slotting the ball between the uprights in the first stanza. Rhode relied greatly on the free-taking skills of their marquee player the prodigiously-talented Niall McNamee to keep them in the hunt.

He slotted over four points from frees in that opening moiety while Conor McNamee finished off a well-constructed move by scoring from play. A point up at the break the Faithful County side had reasons to be optimistic.

Aaron Kelleghan registered the opening point of the second-half to extend Rhode's lead but gradually the pace in the Ratoath camp began to tell. Wallace pointed for Ratoath, McNamee responded in kind before McGowan and then Jack Flynn (a free from off the ground) fired over with 37 minutes played to put Ratoath in front where they stayed.

Wallace was a big loss because he is the general in their set-up. He revels in the new role of playmaker, picking up ball around midfield. He makes the team tick.

Before he was despatched to the sinbin the Meath side created the best goal-scoring opportunity of the day. They moved the ball downfield at pace with Daithi McGowan deliving a neat pass to Bryan McMahon who stole behind the Rhode defence.

The chance was there but instead of pulling the trigger McMahon sought out a colleague with a pass that was intercepted. It was a pass too many. The chance was gone. Shortly afterwards O'Brien had an effort rebound off the upright.

The final 20 minutes or so were enthralling because you sensed anything could happen with McGowan, Cian O'Brien, Cian Rogers and McMahon all enhancing Ratoath's chances with scores.

Rhode remained within touching distance but they couldn't find that extra surge of energy they needed. There was plenty of tension in the closing minutes but Ratoath held on - much to the delight of their fans.

SCORERS

Ratoath - Daithi McGowan 0-3 one free; Eamonn Wallace 0-2; Keith McCabe 0-1; Jack Flynn 0-1 free; Cian Rogers 0-1; Bobby O'Brien 0-1; Cian O'Brien 0-1; Bryan McMahon 0-1 mark.

Rhode - Niall McNamee 0-7 frees; Conor McNamee 0-1; Aaron Keeleghan 0-1.

TEAMS

Ratoath - Darragh McPartlin; Ciaran O Ferraigh, Conor McGill, Ben Wyer; Brian Daly, Eamonn Wallace, Gavin McGowan; Daithi McGowan, Ben McGowan; Cian Rogers, Jack Flynn, Keith McCabe; Bobby O'Brien, Cian O'Brien, Bryan McMahon. Subs - Padraic Byrne for McCabe 51 mins, Andrew Gerrard for Daly 56m, Conor Rooney for B O'Brien 60m.

Rhode - Kenneth Darby; Gareth McNamee, Jake Kavanagh, James McPadden; Dylan Kavanagh, Brian Darby, Keith Murphy; Conor McNamee, Alan McNamee; Anton Sullivan, Ruairi McNamee, Ciaran Heavey; Paraic Sullivan, Aaron Keeleghan, Niall McNamee. Subs - Stephan Hannon for Sullivan half-time, Darren Garry for Heavey 38m, Shane Murphy for G McNamee 47m, Shane Sullivan for A McNamee 60m.

Referee - Seamus Mulhare (Laois).