Meath SFC Final

Ratoath 0-12 Summerhill 0-11

By Paul Keane at Páirc Tailteann

Late points from Daithi McGowan, Jack Flynn and Eamon Wallace sealed a dramatic Meath SFC title success for Ratoath, their third in four seasons.

It's only 10 years since the Brownstown club earned intermediate status by winning the junior championship but they're now the dominant force in the Royal County.

Tied with 10 minutes to go, Ratoath struck three points in a row to repel a Summerhill side that reduced the deficit to the minimum with stoppage time scores from Eoghan Frayne and Eamonn McDonnell.

Jack Flynn was among the Ratoath scorers at Pairc Tailteann and won the Man of the Match award though Eamon Wallace pushed him close for the individual honour with a thrilling display from defence that yielded three points.

There was drama off the field in the closing stages too as both Ratoath manager David Brady and Summerhill boss Conor Gillespie were red carded following a sideline skirmish between the pair.

Ratoath's reward is a Leinster club quarter-final clash with Offaly winners Rhode, back in Navan, on November 6.

Ratoath fielded without Joey Wallace again due to a serious knee injury though they were buoyed by the late addition of the county attacker to the subs bench, wearing number 30.

His older brother, fellow Meath panellist Eamon, is best known as an attacker though has been redeployed in the half-back line by his club and excelled.

It was a canny move that has allowed the speedy Wallace to exploit his searing pace and he burst forward for two important points in the first-half.

Ratoath surged 0-4 to 0-1 clear initially to hint that their favourites tag was well merited.

But three Summerhill points in a row, two from free-taker Conor Lyons who was a late addition to the lineup, hauled them right back into it.

Ratoath took off again with four more points in a row, two of those coming from wing-back Wallace who showed his skillset by splitting the posts off both feet, to take a deserved 0-8 to 0-5 half-time lead.

It looked as if Brady's side might pull decisively clear and heap more misery on the club they beat in the 2019 decider, when Ratoath won their first ever senior decider.

Summerhill dominated the third quarter, however, to once again haul themselves right back into contention, this time levelling it up at 0-9 apiece after 43 minutes.

Two of their four points during the mini blitz of scoring came from frees as county underage star Eoghan Frayne capitalised while David Larkin kicked the score of the day off the outside of his right boot following a terrific run.

The sides remained deadlocked with 10 minutes to go and Ratoath, craving inspiration, sprung Joey Wallace from the bench.

He couldn't deliver and unfortunately broke down in the closing minutes and had to be lifted off the pitch.

But there was consolation for Wallace in the sight of his Ratoath colleagues Daithi McGowan, Man of the Match Jack Flynn and sibling Eamon firing the crucial points that sealed another landmark win for the club.

Summerhill did their best to reel Ratoath in, striking those two late, late scores but when the final whistle was sounded and the dust had settled following the dramatic melee, Ratoath were crowned victors.

Scorers for Ratoath: Daithi McGowan 0-3 (0-2f), Eamon Wallace 0-3, Bryan McMahon 0-3 (0-2f), Bobby O'Brien 0-1 (0-1 m), Cian Rogers 0-1, Jack Flynn 0-1.

Scorers for Summerhill: Eoghan Frayne 0-4 (0-2f), Conor Lyons 0-2 (0-2f), Conor Frayne 0-1, Diarmuid McCabe 0-1 (0-1f), David Larkin 0-1, Padhraig Geraghty 0-1, Eamonn McDonnell 0-1.

Ratoath: Dara McPartlin; Ciaran O Fearraigh, Ben Wyer, Conor McGill; Brian Daly, Gavin McGowan, Eamon Wallace; Ben McGowan, Jack Flynn; Conor Rooney, Bobby O'Brien, Keith McCabe; Bryan McMahon, Daithi McGowan, Cian Rogers.

Subs: Cian O'Brien for Daithi McGowan 35-42, Joey Wallace for O'Brien 42, O'Brien for Rooney 45, Padraic Byrne for Joey Wallace 58, Andy Gerrard for Gavin McGowan 60.

Summerhill: Tony McDonnell; John Lavelle, Ronan Ryan, Ross Ryan; Padhraig Geraghty, Padraig Jennings, Adam McDonnell; Micheal Byrne, Adam Flanagan; David Larkin, Diarmuid McCabe, Kevin Ryan; Eoghan Frayne, Conor Frayne, Conor Lyons.

Subs: Barry Dardis for Lyons h/t, Eamonn McDonnell for Dardis 35, Liam Shaw for Ryan 39, Iarla Hughes for Jennings 50, William Ryan for McDonnell 54.

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Naomh Mhuire).