Managerial tempers flare as Ratoath rule in Meath

Ratoath 0-12 Summerhill 0-11

Ratoath manager David Brady was dramatically red carded following a remarkable late skirmish at Páirc Tailteann as his side held firm to secure their third Meath title in four seasons at the expense of Summerhill.

The Mayo great was sent tumbling to the ground by opposing Summerhill manager Conor Gillespie who was also shown red in the dying stages of the encounter.

A foul conceded initially by Ratoath's Eamon Wallace for a high challenge sparked the incident, though both Brady and Wallace later shook hands and even hugged on the pitch after the final whistle.

On the field of play, three Ratoath points from Daithi McGowan, Jack Flynn and Wallace between the 50th and 53rd minutes ultimately proved decisive.

The sides had been level with 10 minutes to go but those scores propelled Ratoath clear and all Summerhill could muster in reply was additional time points from Eoghan Frayne and sub Eamonn McDonnell.

Ratoath's reward is a Leinster club quarter-final clash with Offaly winners Rhode, back in Navan, on 6 November.

Ratoath fielded without Joey Wallace again due to a serious knee injury though they were buoyed by the late addition of the county attacker to the subs' bench, wearing number 30.

His older brother, fellow Meath panellist Eamon, is best known as an attacker though has been redeployed in the half-back line by his club and excelled, striking 0-03.

It was a canny move that has allowed the speedy Wallace to exploit his searing pace and he burst forward for two important points in the first half.

Ratoath surged 0-04 to 0-01 clear initially to hint that their favourites’ tag was well merited.

But three Summerhill points in a row, two from free-taker Conor Lyons who was a late addition to the line-up,