Paul Galvin's Ratoath shrug off determined Skryne to reach another Meath SFC final

Strong performances from current Meath players Jack Flynn and Daithi McGowan helped the 2023 finalists to impose themselves in the final quarter hour or so

Paul Galvin has managed Ratoath to another Meath senior football final. Picture: Tom Maher/Inpho

Meath SFC semi-final: Ratoath 0-22 Skryne 0-11 

A work in progress. That is Paul Galvin's summary of his Ratoath team who, despite apparently having more in the locker, are through to another Meath SFC final.

Kerry great Galvin only took the Ratoath reins last winter but has guided them to a fifth senior final in the club's history, shrugging off the determined effort of neighbours Skryne in Navan.

With 14 minutes to go in this semi-final, Ratoath were just a point up after a powerful third quarter from a Skryne side managed by former county boss Mick O'Dowd.

But strong performances from current Meath players Jack Flynn and Daithí McGowan helped the 2023 finalists to impose themselves in the final quarter hour or so.

Ratoath outscored Skryne by 0-11 to 0-1 in that period to win by a flattering double scores margin, securing them a final clash with holders Dunshaughlin or Summerhill who meet tomorrow.

Flynn and McGowan accounted for 13 points between them overall while ex-county man Bryan McMahon weighed in with three important scores over the hour for Ratoath too.

"We're growing and we're improving," said former Wexford manager Galvin of Ratoath. "We're a work in progress in many ways. How far more we can go is the question."

Ratoath, who won their first senior championship in 2019 and added two more titles in 2020 and 2022, topped Group B this season before seeing off Donaghmore-Ashbourne at the quarter-final stage and now 13-times champions Skryne.

"We feel that we're improving and that there are areas that are going well for us and then there is stuff that needs to get better quickly," said Galvin, four times an All-Ireland winner with Kerry.

"Let's see. These are expereinced boys, they've been around the track a good few times and they've proven themselves around that track a good few times so they've got good know how. I think they have great DNA and I think that's probably what you're seeing there in the later stages of the championship, that bit of DNA that they have, that bit of experience is starting to show maybe a little bit but we have another one to go now."

Skryne had the wind advantage initially but wasted four two-point attempts and only kicked a single first-half score, a Darragh Campion two-pointer.

Ratoath had 18th and 29th minute goal chances that they failed to convert but still led 0-6 to 0-2 at the interval.

There was confusion when referee Kieran Olwell blew for half-time despite the ball still being in play after the hooter had sounded.

Skryne could argue that it cost them a potential score and it looked as if it might come down to a point or two after they battled back to trail just 0-10 to 0-11.

But that strong final 15 minutes from Ratoath, which included 46th and 50th minute two-pointers from Flynn and McGowan, eased them to victory.

Scorers for Ratoath: J Flynn 0-7 (2 tpf, 1 tp); D McGowan 0-6 (1 tp); B McMahon 0-3; L Kelly (tp), C Rogers 0-2 each; G O'Reilly (1f), R Byrne 0-1 each.

Scorers for Skryne: N Finnerty 0-5 (1 tp, 2 frees); D Campion 0-3 (tp, 1 free); C Donohoe, B Smyth, C O'Brien 0-1 each.

RATOATH: C Rooney; G McGowan, C McGill, S Brazil; L Kelly, B Wyer, C Brady; J Flynn, D McGowan; C O'Brien, G O'Reilly, B McGowan; B McMahon, B O'Brien, C Rogers.

Subs: R Byrne for B O'Brien (44); C Crawford for Brazil (48); O Cunningham for C O'Brien & L Corbett for G McGowan (57); A Gerrard for McGill (59).

SKRYNE: I Gillett; J Swan, C Lenehan, N Lenehan; J Finnerty, J O'Regan, P Carpenter; D Fitzpatrick, H Rooney; D Campion, C O'Brien, S Smyth; N Finnerty, P Finnerty, B Smyth.

Subs: O Keogh for P Finnerty (h/t); C Donohoe for Carpenter (38); C Swan for J Finnerty & A Canavan for B Smyth (51).

Referee: K Olwell (Moynalty).