The Heath defeat Park-Ratheniska to jump to second in ACFL Division 2 Winners' Phase

The last two Intermediate football champions, The Heath and Park-Ratheniska, met in the final round of the ACFL Division 2 winners section in Ratheniska on Friday evening.

The Heath had six points to spare over Park-Ratheniska after a hard battle in slippery conditions. The win means The Heath go into second behind Ballyfin

The Heath 1-11

Park-Ratheniska 0-8

If Courtwood defeat Ballyfin on Saturday in Ballybrittas, then both themselves and The Heath will be tied on three points. In that scenario, due to Courtwood and The Heath playing out a draw last week, the team that faces Ballyfin in the final will come down to scoring difference.

The Heath now lie on +4 following their victory over Park-Ratheniska, so Courtwood must defeat Ballyfin by eight points to qualify for promotion and the final.

Park-Ratheniska drew the first blow on their home patch. Midfielder Podge Dunne found James Connolly inside with a kickpass and Dunne burst inside to receive the return and pop over.

The Heath hit back with the only goal of the game though. Excellent play from Evin Keane saw him cut inside and find Daithi Carroll for the palm home to the net.

Park-Ratheniska responded positively to that setback. James Connolly curled over a placed ball and then Connolly set up Podge Dunne for his second point to tie the match.

Daithi Carroll restored The Heath’s lead after he was set up again by Evin Keane for the point. Park-Ratheniska had a rare sight at goal soon after that, as nice play from Cian Nolan and Marc Ramsbottom set up James Connolly for the chance.

However, The Heath keeper JP Nerney made himself big and denied Connolly from close-range. Park-Ratheniska did equalise once more though soon after, as Cian Nolan landed his first of three first-half points.

Evin Keane knocked over a free for The Heath but again Nolan levelled. Sean Tynan managed to keep the ball in play and get it back out to Nolan for the simple score inside.

The Heath hit the next two points, as the dangerous Keane continued to cause Park-Ratheniska issues. Keane cracked over a delightful outside-of-the-boot score before the same man kicked another free between the uprights.

Cian Nolan picked off the last score of the half for Park-Ratheniska. Nolan banged over a brilliant point from long distance to leave Park-Ratheniska only trailing by one at half-time, 0-6 to 1-4.

The Heath hit the first two points after the break to give themselves a three-point cushion. Keane curled over a free upon the resumption and then Daithi Carroll added another to his tally from play.

Park-Ratheniska were battling away though and grabbed their first score of the half to cut the deficit to just two. Mark Delaney came up from centre-back to drill a ball into James Connolly inside. Connolly claimed the mark and curled over.

However, The Heath’s fitness really told in the final twenty minutes. They are a very mobile team and pressed Park-Ratheniska high up the pitch, barely letting them out of their own half.

Wing-forward Robbie Ging grabbed a point after The Heath won Park-Ratheniska’s kick-out. Their next score was very similiar, as The Heath won the Park-Ratheniska kickout, and this time Dylan Keyes swung over.

Park-Ratheniska were reduced to fourteen men briefly in the 45th minute, as referee Michael Tarpey black-carded full-back Colm Brennan. The Heath continued to press on, with inter-county player Dylan Kavanagh adding on another.

Substitute Stephen Knowles grabbed a point back for Park-Ratheniska but they still trailed by four points with time running out. The Heath were still running at pace and finished the match strongly to ensure victory.

Centre-forward Dylan Keyes kicked over his second point. While Park-Ratheniska were back to their full complement for the final five minutes as Colm Brennan returned to play, but it proved not to matter.

The Heath finished a deserving six-point winner in Ratheniska and will now wait with bated breath to see if they’ve qualified for the Division 2 final and promotion. They are certainly making steps forward though, as Senior relegation in 2021 seems to have sparked life back into The Heath.