The LMFM Minor Hurling Championship got off to a brilliant start today (September 18) with some rip-roaring encounters being played out while some teams turned in eye-catching performances as they ran out comfortable winners across Divisions 1 and 2.
Possibly the game of the day was the thrilling encounter between Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille and Ratoath while was played in perfect conditions in Grangegodden. This was proper Championship hurling with neither side giving an inch and indeed the temperature was just as hot outside the fence as on the field of play as neither supporters nor players gave an inch throughout the hour.
Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille held a narrow advantage at half time, 0-08 to 0-05, a margin which had decreased by one at the second half water break, 0-10 to 0-08. The drama then really unfolded in the final quarter as Ratoath fired a hat-trick of goals to the hosts solitary major and looked to have stolen a march on Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille only for the Seanie Geraghty coached team to conjure up two last gasp points to level affairs up on the stroke of full time with the score reading Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille 1-15 to Ratoath’s 3-09. Who knows what would have transpired had they been awarded the point they believed they had scored in the final quarter only for the referee to adjudicate the ball had narrowly drifted outside the upright. The home teams’ umpire was adamant it was a point while the Ratoath umpire insisted it was a wide ball. The hosts may invest in Hawk-Eye for the next game!
Tom Shine was in excellent form for Loughcrew Gaels/Gaeil Colmcille against Ratoath. Photo via FidgyFotos
The other Division 1A encounter saw four-in-a-row chasing Trim overcome Kilmessan on a scoreline of Trim 2-18 Kilmessan 0-17. Their encounter with Ratoath who they defeated in the 2020 Final on October 2 will be one to look forward to as they could inflict a potentially fatal blow on Ratoath’s Championship ambitions with a victory.
In Division 1B, newly promoted Donaghmore/Ashbourne made a fruitful trip to Fr. Plunkett Memorial Park where they toppled Kildalkey in a high scoring game. Michael O’Sullivan, fresh off hitting 3-03 in their Minor Football League Final on Tuesday was once more in fine scoring form as he top scored for the victors while the midfield pairing of Cael Sullivan and Rhys Thomas were outstanding and Sam Ryan hurled up a storm in the half back line, letting nothing past him.
Clann na nGael and Dunderry who will meet in the Division 1 League semi-final on Tuesday September 28 in Dunganny, met in the other Division 1B opening round game today with the home side winning out in Athboy by 2-19 to 2-10. Having topped the table in the League, hopes are high around Athboy and Ráth Chairn that the Tony Donnelly Cup could be heading in their direction for the first time since Athboy were victors back in 1995. Luke Cahill, Luke Ennis, Jack Murray and Oran Daly were among those who shone brightest in Clann na nGael’s victory.
In Division 2A, a tightly contested local derby between Navan O’Mahonys and Wolfe Tones played in Kilberry saw the home side overcome their nearest and dearest neighbours by a solitary point, 3-10 to 2-12. In the other game played in that group, Kiltale defeated a Rathmolyon side who were minus the services of some key players by thirteen points, 2-21 to 1-11. There is little doubt that Rathmolyon will improve from this game, and should they meet later in the Championship then they will be keen to make amends for this result.
Division 2B saw only one game played with St. Peter’s Dunboyne’s encounter with Na Fianna being called off and Killyon/Longwood made the long journey over to Stamullen a fruitful one as they came away with a twenty-one point win, a result which marks them out as real contenders for the PJ Stenson Cup.
For all results click on the below link.
By minormeath Sat 18th Sep
