In the immediate aftermath of Stephen Masterson blowing the full time whistle at the end of another epic between Ratoath and Kiltale in the Meath SHC Final replay, temptation was to headline this piece ‘Podge and Rog lead Ratoath to title retention’. But that would have only told a fraction of the story…
Not only of this rematch, but credit must also be afforded in bucket loads to both Killyon and Longwood who also served up a repeat cracker in Act II of the SHC B Final. At the end of which the red and green had done enough to ensure the Kit Mitchell Cup – which honours a legendary and sadly missed son of the Hill Of Down – made its way home in just its second year of competition.
In doing so, the Keith Keoghan-captained crew dethroned the inaugural holders of Kit’s Cup. General consensus would be that his parishoners left his trophy behind them at their first attempt to grasp it.
It was abundantly and rapidly clear they had no intention of making the same mistake a second time. Once the electric Dylan Farrell got the scoreboard moving and the classy Adam Gannon rifled past Mark Kennedy in the Longwood goal, it was clear the Lilywhites were going to have a mammoth task to hold onto the silverware.
Killyon had raced into a 1-06 to 0-01 lead and even though the ‘Wood looked like they were about to work themselves into the contest, they were put back on their heels when Justin Coyne rifled a bullet to the net at the O’Mahonys end, leaving himself and his colleagues out front by 2-07 to 0-04 and with one arm seemingly wrapped around Kit.
Quick scores from Ben McLoughlin and Anthony Healy seemed to spark a bit of life into the contest but when Gannon hit a second ‘major’, even a Damien Healy equivalent at the other end couldn’t tip the scales back the other way and the immortilisation of Kit Mitchell was homeward bound.
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Now, it’s very seldom you can say the following, but, the SHC Final repriese itself was almost a carbon copy of the starter on the appealing Saturday menu. That might seem an odd summation given that it was a sensational strike from Podge O’Hanrahan which had rescued Ratoath six days previously.
However, an objective appraisal of matters must conclude that the blue and gold were (marginally) the best team first time out and it is for that reason that the feeling was that, like Killyon, the Jack McGowan-captained crew set about putting the record straight.
And, also like the winners of the curtain raiser, they did so emphatically. An exquisite pair of points from Gavin McGowan getting them up and running quickly.
Then brother Daithi floated over a couple of peaches with the simplicity that Rory McIlroy finds a fairway, followed by Jack becoming the third sibling to get the umpires moving. But it was a trademark goal from the diminutive diamond Bryan McMahon which really strapped the Jubilee Cup in for a trip back up the Fairyhouse road. Or so it seemed.
Yes Jack Regan slotted a few frees for John Donoghue’s team but, with the holders leading by 1-12 to 0-05 half way through their days work, there was only one outcome seemingly possible.
That said, one must always remember that Kiltale’s catchment area is the same locality which encompasses Moynalvey and Summerhill and, from Gaelic football to hurling to rugby to racing, time and again brethern of the area have proven themselves to be of nothing but courageous and granite-like character.
So it really should have been no surprise to see Hughie O’Sullivan – who will surely attract attention from Meath management teams in both codes in the coming weeks and months – drilling low past Colm O’Riordan to reduce the deficit facing the maroon and whites to a much more manageable looking seven points.
That said, any such thoughts were probably banished just as quickly when Podge O’Hanrahan and Cian Rogers – see opening paragraph – cut loose. The latter’s almost instinctual eye for goal (regardless of which code it happens to be in) conjured a second green flag for Andy Dermody’s side. Surely that was case closed?
Nearly, but not quite at that exact point. Because, though it might have appeared nigh on impossible, Kiltale came careering back again. As firstly Regan sent another RPG whizzing to the opposition net and then the outstanding Adam Murphy did likewise and you began to wonder was the greatest comeback since Fabrice Muamba actually going to happen.
Indeed, in a frantic finale, one was drawn to recall Al Paccino’s Inches because, when the rejuvenated Ross Ryan – who had cut a marginalised figure in the first half – doubled on a throw in ball from referee Masterson, Pairc Tailteann held its breath as the sliotar clipped the butt of right hand post and went wide.
Had it gone in, the Co Board could have cut down on demolition costs as the emotional eruption would’ve lifted the roof off the much maligned old stand a fortnight ahead of schedule.
On such fine margins are heroics and heartache decided though. Thus, having got the wake up call, as the best teams do, Ratoath grasped the initiative back as sumptuous scores from O’Hanrahan and Rogers concluded the latest chapter in Ratoath success story that simply keeps on going.
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