Oct 14,2024
Ratoath 2-15 Trim 1-16
Having waited since 1963 for a Meath senior hurling championship title success, Ratoath were hardly likely to do it the easy way.
So it proved in Navan, where the Brownstown men finally ended their long wait for local glory - but not before enduring one last heart in the mouth moment.
Leading by two points, with the three allotted minutes of stoppage time already played, it looked as if their old nemesis Trim had been handed a dramatic lifeline in the form of a penalty.
Trim fans were certainly under the impression that referee Conor Ferguson had signalled a penalty for a drag down of James Toher but following consultation between the match officials, a free in was eventually awarded.
James Murray, Trim's top scorer and their placed ball specialist, went for goal but his shot was blocked and the follow up effort flew wide.
It was the last action of the game and whilst Ratoath celebrated a famous win, following three losses in the previous four finals, Trim fans booed as Ferguson and his officials departed the pitch.
Ratoath had four McGowan brothers on the field and three of them, goalscorers Jack and Daithi, along with Gavin, combined for 2-04 between them.
County man and free-taker Padraig O'Hanrahan hit 0-08 though endured a couple of nervous moments in the closing stages as two of his efforts flew wide, keeping Trim just about in it.
A number of Ratoath players, including former football All-Star nominee Conor McGill, have now won senior football and hurling medals.
They will return to duty on 16 November in the Leinster intermediate club championship, against John Henderson's Bray Emmets.
Ratoath, with the highly regarded Donal Franks in their corner as coach, trailed by two points here after the opening quarter and it could have been more.
Trim led 0-05 to 0-03 at that stage and with former Meath footballer Alan Douglas a late addition to the line-up, wearing number 21, they created more of the opportunities.
But nine first-half wides, and 12 overall, undermined their bid to match Kilmessan as the most successful senior club in Meath with 29 titles.
And when Ratoath eventually grabbed a foothold in the game, they were more economical, with O'Hanrahan tying the game up at 0-06 apiece following his fourth point of the game in the 21st minute.
Captain Jack McGowan struck Ratoath's first goal a minute later, capitalising on good work down the left by sibling Daithi and slotting home from the opposite side of goal.
Man of the Match Gavin McGowan then tapped over a point on the left before getting out in front of his man for another score shortly after.
It was all Ratoath and they deserved their 1-10 to 0-07 half-time lead, having outscored Trim by an impressive eight points in that second quarter of the game.
Ratoath, managed by Mikey Cole, who had two nephews in the Trim starting lineup, surged seven clear at the end of the third quarter when Sean Corbett pointed, 1-14 to 0-10.
Douglas sniped a 49th minute goal for Trim though and the David McGuinness managed side refused to relent, getting the margin down to two points late on before that goalmouth drama.
Ratoath: Colm O'Riordan; Domhnall Rogers, Conor McGill, Liam Kelly (0-01); Cormac Butler, Darragh Kelly, Ben McGowan; Cian Kelly, Ciaran O'Hanrahan; Jack McGowan (1-00), Cian Rogers, Padraig O'Hanrahan (0-08, 0-04f, 0-02 65); Gavin McGowan (0-04), Daithi McGowan (1-00), Sean Corbett (0-02).
Subs: Gearoid Crowley for O'Riordan 17, Bryan McMahon for Corbett 53, Padraic Byrne for Murphy 60.
Trim: Charlie Ennis; Danny Coleman, Ben Holden, Gary Fleming; James Toher, Dimmy Higgins (0-01), Conor Quigley (0-02); Joey Cole (0-01), David Murtagh (0-02); James Murray (0-09, 0-06f), James Andrews, Pa Ryan; Mark Molloy, Mikey Cole, Alan Douglas (1-01).
Subs: Gerry Dwane for Fleming h/t, Eoghan Ryan for Coleman h/t, Ian Birmingham for Ryan 40.
Referee: Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille)
