Lusmagh's Leinster title ambitions ended by impressive Ratoath

AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Hurling Semi-Final

RATOATH 0-22

LUSMAGH 1-12

LUSMAGH'S dreams of Leinster Intermediate Hurling Championship glory were ended when a poor first half display left them with far too much leeway to make up in the second half as they went down to Meath champions Ratoath at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park in Birr on Saturday.

The Offaly senior B champions never really got going in the first half when Ratoath were far the better team and picked off some great scores as they built up an 11 point half time lead.

To their credit Lusmagh didn't throw in the towel and battled back in the second half cutting the lead to five points with just under seven minutes plus injury time remaining but they simply had left themselves too much to do and in the end Ratoath held on to claim a place in the Leinster final for the first time against Kilkenny's Danesfort.

This defeat brings down the curtain on the year for Lusmagh but it had been a memorable one for the club as they captured the Offaly Senior B title and earned themselves a place back in the top flight of Offaly hurling in 2026 for the first time in a number of years.

Ratoath can now look forward to a home game in the Leinster final and on this form they can look forward to that game with a degree of confidence. They played really well in the first half when they frequently opened up the Lusmagh defence and picked off a series of lovely points. Eight different players scored for them from play in the first half, an indication of the damage they were doing in attack.

The early stages of the game didn't give much indication of how the game was going to develop. Lusmagh actually got the first score and the sides were level twice early on and after eight minutes the score was 0-5 to 0-3 in favour of Ratoath. But then they began to exert their dominance and five points in succession put them in the driving seat and after Lusmagh interrupted that sequence Ratoath followed with five more without reply to lead at half time by 0-15 to 0-4.

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Lusmagh were better in the second half and overall had the better of the proceedings at that stage. While Lusmagh did eat into the lead, they struggled to string a lot of scores together at one time. After early points they missed the chance to build momentum with wides, with the usually reliable Paul Kinsella off target from frees on the day. They kept plugging away and got the gap down to five points with still plenty of time to play. A 20m free gave them the chance to cut the lead to two with three minutes plus injury to play but Eimhin Kelly's effort for goal was saved and Ratoath were able to ride out the game from there.

Lusmagh went down fighting but one wonders if they could have performed in the first half as well as they did in the second, how things would have turned out. They found it difficult to hold onto the ball in the forward line in the first half as Ratoath defended very well and built attacks from there. Lusmagh pushed Eimhin Kelly further forward in the second half and that made a difference and Ratoath weren't as comfortable on the ball at that stage as they had been earlier. Lusmagh caused them problems then but the 11 point gap was just too much to make up.

Ratoath can now look forward to a home Leinster final and Ben McGowan, Conor McGill and Domhnall Rogers played well in defence. Ciaran O'Hanrahan had a good game in midfield and Cian Rogers, Padraig O'Hanrahan and Gavin McGowan were the pick of the attack.

Andy Flynn, Eimhin Kelly and Daire Temple worked hard in the Lusmagh defence, Graham Lynch battled hard in midfield and Eoin Quinlan was the best of their forward line.

Lusmagh got off to a good start with David Kelly pointing after just 30 seconds. Ratoath had an early goal chance but Rob Hayes was foiled but they did level in the follow up when Daithi McGowan pointed. Padraig O'Hanrahan put the Meath champions ahead after four minutes but Lorcan Troy levelled matters again with a point from 60m.

Ratoath then began to take a grip on proceedings as two quick points from Cian Rogers and another from Ciaran O'Hanrahan inside two minutes pushed them three clear. Eoin Quinlan pulled one back but two wides followed as Ratoath hit the next five points in a row over the following 10 minutes. Padraig O'Hanrahan pointed a free and Bryan McMahon, Rob Hayes, Cian Rogers and Gavin McGowan all found the target.

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Eoin Quinlan got Lusmagh's first point in 12 minutes but it failed to lift Lusmagh as Ratoath continued to find the target. Points from Domhnall Rogers, Cian Rogers and Padraig O'Hanrahan with three, two from play one a free, left them in a commanding 0-15 to 0-4 lead at half time.

Lusmagh made a quick start to the second half with Eoin Quinlan pointing after just 21 seconds. Padraig O'Hanrahan and Paul Kinsella exchanged points from frees but the Lusmagh man then sent two frees wide as they attempted to gain momentum. Eimhin Kelly took over the free taking duties and found the target and immediately followed up with a point from play. Rob Hayes and Gavin McGowan then restored Ratoath's 10 point advantage 10 minutes into the second half. Two more Eimhin Kelly frees sandwiched another effort from Gavin McGowan.

Then as the game entered the final quarter Lusmagh got the boost they were looking for. A good move involving Eibheann Kelly, Graham Lynch and Luke Bowe ended with sub Daire Kelly firing low to the Ratoath net and Lusmagh had a lifeline. Padraig O'Hanrahan responded with a Ratoath free but Darren Healy and Graham Lynch hit quickfire points to leave five points in it with just under seven minutes left to play.

Lusmagh won a 20m free with three minutes left an Eimhin Kelly went for goal but Colm O'Riordan saved his effort and that was their last real chance. A Padraig O'Hanrahan free steadied Ratoath and deep in injury time Cian Rogers fired over another point to seal the Meath champions place in the Leinster Final.

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MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

RATOATH: Colm O'Riordan; Liam Corbett, Ben McGowan, Conor McGill; Niall McLarnon, Darragh Kelly, Domhnall Rogers; Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Jack McGowan; Daithi McGowan, Rob Hayes, Padraig O'Hanrahan; Bryan McMahon, Cian Rogers, Gavin McGowan. Subs. Tomas Corbett (for Liam Corbett, 43 mins), Liam Kelly (for Jack McGowan, 56 mins)

LUSMAGH: Alan Kelly; Rory Quinlan, Andy Flynn, Ruairi Kelly; Daire Temple, Eimhin Kelly, Lorcan Troy; Darren Healy, Graham Lynch; Eoin Quinlan, David Kelly, James Kelly; Paul Kinsella, Eibheann Kelly, Luke Bowe. Subs. Daire Kelly (for David Kelly, 36 mins), Aidan Byrne (for Eibheann Kelly, 62 mins).

REFEREE: Rory Hanley (Dublin)

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ratoath full forward Cian Rogers was the man who did most damage to Lusmagh in the first half. He scored four points from play in that period and created a lot of openings. He added a fifth point after the break but wasn't quite as dominant then but the foundation for victory had been laid in that first half when the Meath Hurler of the Year was instrumental in setting them up for victory.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

While it only turned out to be a consolation score Lusmagh's goal came at the end of a very good move. Eimheann Kelly and Graham Lynch were involved initially in exchanging passes before Luke Bowe took the ball on and transferred it to the unmarked sub Daire Kelly who fired to the net. It gave Lusmagh renewed hope but unfortunately for them they were unable to build further on that.

REFEREE WATCH

Rory Hanley handled the game well. He allowed a lot of physical challenges to go as they tried to let the game flow. He pulled both side a number of times for overcarrying and while Lusmagh felt hard done by on a few occasions, and probably rightly so, overall the match official did a good job. He showed a red card to the Ratoath manager late in the game, which may have repercussions for him for the final.

WHAT’S NEXT

It's the end of the season for Lusmagh, one which saw them crowned Senior B champions, and they can now rest as they look forward to returning to Senior A next year. Ratoath advance to meet Danesfort in the Leinster final the weekend after next.

VENUE WATCH

Considering all the poor weather of recent weeks, the Grant Heating St Brendan's Park pitch was in good condition for the time of year and held up well. There was a decent crowd present and there were plenty of stewards on duty to look after everything.

STATISTICS

Wides; Ratoath 7 (4 in first half) Lusmagh 10 (5 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Ratoath 2 (Cian Rogers, Domhnall Rogers) Lusmagh 1 (James Kelly)

Black Cards: None

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Ratoath; Padraig O'Hanrahan (0-8, 0-5 frees), Cian Rogers (0-5), Gavin McGowan (0-3), Rob Hayes (0-2), Daithi McGowan, Ciaran O'Hanrahan, Bryan McMahon, Domhnall Rogers (0-1 each).

Lusmagh; Eimhin Kelly (0-4, 0-3 frees), Eoin Quinlan (0-3), Daire Kelly (1-0), David Kelly, Lorcan Troy, Paul Kinsella (free), Darren Healy, Graham Lynch (0-1 each).

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