Kilskyre/Moylagh v Ratoath Div. I.H.C. Sat. 2.7.22 at Kilberry
Final Score: Kilskyre/Moylagh 2.16 Ratoath 0.11
Kilskyre/Moylagh made a winning start to their Intermediate Hurling Championship Group B campaign at Kilberry on Saturday with a deserved win over a gallant Ratoath outfit. Ratoath started well and were 3 points up inside the first 5 minutes before Matthew Farrelly goaled after a long ball from Willie McGrath found him in space inside the defence. This score settled the North Meath men and with Tom Shine finding his range from play and placed balls they went on to lead by 2.7 to 0.6 at the interval with Shine goaling just before the break. Indeed, Shine could have goaled twice earlier in the half but was foiled firstly by a brilliant save from the Ratoath goalkeeper and a minute later by the upright. The North Meath men also lost their Inter County star Sean Geraghty in that first half with a bad hand injury.
The second half was a tight affair with Kilskyre/Moylagh appearing to set out to defend their lead and Ratoath trying their best to get back into the game. Both sides accuracy in this half left a bit to be desired with both hitting a number of wides. However, Shine and McGrath were getting enough points to keep the North Meath men in front to the end. Late on there was a welcome return to action for Kilskyre/Moylagh after a long absence of the long serving Derek Muldoon who replaced the injured Jamie Casserly.
Others to impress for the winners were Benji Smith, Sean Tunney, Paddy Briody, Junior O’Reilly and substitute the evergreen Peadar Byrne.
Kilskyre/Moylagh: J O’Higgins, L Maguire, P Muldoon, M Farrell, B Smith, M Geraghty, S. Tunney, D Shine (0.1), P Briody, D J O’Reilly, S Geraghty, J Casserly, T Shine (1.11), W McGrath (0.4), M. Farrelly (1.0).
Subs: P Byrne for S Geraghty, D Muldoon for Casserly.
Referee: Gerry O’Brien (Wolfe Tones)
