Second-half surge sends Ratoath into Leinster semi-finals

Ratoath 0-11 Rhode 0-9

Five unanswered points midway through the second-half proved the difference as Ratoath scored a rare win for Meath teams in the AIB Leinster club SFC to book their semi-final place.

David Brady's side had to dig deep and it was a particularly tense finale as the former Mayo midfielder exchanged heated words with a number of Rhode players, even receiving a shove at one stage from Rhode's Anton Sullivan.

Brady's side ultimately held out and will face The Downs in the provincial semi-finals at Croke Park on Saturday, 19 November.

Daithi McGowan was Ratoath's chief scorer again with 0-03 though it was a gutsy win for the collective with eight different scorers.

The game hung in the balance until Ratoath pulled decisively clear with those five points from McGowan, Jack Flynn, Cian O'Brien and Cian Rogers.

Veteran Niall McNamee scored seven points for Rhode, though all of those came from frees and the Offaly men conjured just two points from play throughout the hour.

Ratoath, previously Leinster junior and intermediate champions, entered the contest as favourites despite never having won a senior game outside of the county.

The Royal County's record generally didn't augur well either with just 13 wins by Meath teams in 33 outings since Dunshaughlin won the 2002 Leinster title.

The recent record of Meath teams in Leinster is particularly poor with just three wins by their representatives in the last 13 seasons, prior to today.

Ultra-experienced Rhode claimed a 31st Offaly title back in September and approached this contest confident of pulling off an away win.

They edged a cagey first-half and hit the interval with a 0-05 to 0-04 lead, McNamee nudging them ahead with his fourth point from a free with the last kick