MHC final: Ratoath deliver at the third attempt
November 21, 2021
Ratoath's Sean Corbett shoots as Fergal Flynn and Jack Connell Gaeil Colmcille Loughcrew Gaels closes in during the Meath MHC Division 1 final at Pairc Tailteann
Having lost the two previous MHC finals, Ratoath collected the Tony Donnelly Cup at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday when displaying their superiority over the Gaeil Colmcille/Loughcrew Gaels
Ratoath .................. 2-10
Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille .......0-10
Two final quarter goals secured a first MHC title for Ratoath since 1969. Team captain Sean Corbett bagged the first in the 48th minutewith sub Oisin Cashman getting the second. Cashman's 53rd minute effort completed their tally.
Mark Haskins' teenagers made all the running and were never reeled in after Ronan Byrne pointed them in front in the third minute.
To their credit the Kells/Moylagh/Kilskyre combination under the tutelage of county hurler Sean Geraghty kept Ratoath in their sights until the final quarter.
Two points in arrears at half-time, 0-5 to 0-7, the combination side trimmed the gap to the minimum within 30 seconds of the restart.
They were still in contention when Tom Shine landed a 42nd minute free with Ratoath holding a 0-9 to 0-7 lead.
Then came team captain Corbett's goal, setting the team in blue and gold on their way to the title.
The Kells/Moylagh/Kilskyre combination had the backing of the breeze in the opening half. They were however facing a strong sun. Ratoath chalked up four points in the opening quarter for the loss of just one, Tom Shine's opening for Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille in the 11th minute.
Ratoath responded with points from Oisin Cunningham and team captain Sean Corbett to make it 0-4 to 0-1 at the water break.
Sean Corbett and Domhnall Rogers (free) moved Ratoath 0-6 to 0-2 clear by the 18th minute. Two points in quick succession halved Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille's deficit.
James McDonnell and Tom Shine were the scorers - the latter's score given following consultation. Tomas Corbett moved Ratoath further ahead before Tom Shine's fourth score of the half left the team from the north west of the county just two points off the pace, 0-5 to 0-7, at half-time.
Scorers: Ratoath - Sean Corbett 1-3; Oisin Cashman 1-0; Domhnall Rogers (1f), Ronan Conheady 0-2 each; Ronan Byrne, Tomas Corbett, Oisin Cunningham 0-1 each.
Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille - Tom Shine 0-5 (2fs); James McDonnell 0-3; Kit Og Lynch, Tiernan Anderson 0-1 each.
Ratoath - Kristian Grace; John Fitzharris, Liam Corbett, Tim Fitzpatrick; Chris Haskins, Tomas Corbett, Oisin Cunningham; Ben Fraser, Liam Kelly; Eoin Drysdale, Domhnall Rogers, Ronan Conheady; Scott Feldman, Sean Corbett (c), Ronan Byrne. Subs - Oisin Cashman for Feldman (38), Oisin Cunningham for Haskins (60).
Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille - Tommy McKeon; Matthew Farrelly (jc), Jack Connell, Taidhg Dardis; Sean Thornton (jc), Dara Shine, Eoin Briody; Oisin McDermott, Oisin O'Reilly; Rian Earley, Tom Shine, James McDonnell; Hugh Corcoran, Fergal Flynn, Kit Og Lynch. Subs - John Gormley for O O'Reilly (ht), Tiernan Anderson for Early (ht), Andrew Gormley for Thornton (38), Ronan Cunneen for Dardis (56), Conall McGovern for Farrelly (57).
Referee - Derek Ryan (Na Fianna)
