SHC Group B: 'Mill grind out win
June 17, 2018
Conor Darby gains possession for Boardsmill as O'Mahony's Dylan Regan and Derek Loughran close in during the opening round of the Meath SHC at Lomans Park Trim
Boardsmill overcame Navan O'Mahonys in this closely contested Ted Murtagh SHC Group B opener at Trim early on Sunday afternoon.
Boardsmill .........2-9
O'Mahonys ....... 1-9
Matters turned the 'Mill's way in the 37th minute when Donal Flattery pounced on defensive slackness to fire home the opening goal, at the town end.
That left it 1-6 to 0-7 and put the 'Mill in front for the first time where they remained to the end.
Promoted O'Mahonys battled to stay in touch and the opening goal was all that separated the sides until the 54th minute when Boardsmill got in for a second goal.
This time Niall Durkin netted and his side were six points clear.
The time remaining - including five minutes of stoppage time - yielded just one more score. Conor Fitzpatrick's delivery was flicked to the net by Jack Walsh and the deficit was halved.
The time remaining yielded no more scores, though some in the O'Mahonys' camp felt they were mounting a last gasp attack when time was called.
On their return to senior ranks, O'Mahonys played into the town goal in the first-half and were backed by the breeze.
Two Skehan points, one free, got them off to a positive start. Niall Weir opened Boardsmill's account from a 20th minute free. Moments later Fergal Flattery leveled matters for the first time.
The scoring rate rose in the run-in to the break. Seven were registered over the remainder of the half, that included four minutes of added time.
Scores were tied four times in the opening half, but never thereafter. A David Quirke point with James Murphy assisting earned O'Mahonys a 0-6 to 0-5 interval advantage.
With one of his two scores from play Paddy Skehan doubled O'Mahonys lead shortly after resumption. Donal Flattery replied for Boardsmill who then made their mark with the opening goal that set them on their way to victory.
O'Mahonys - John Gleeson; Dermot McKenna, Paddy Dillon; James Murphy, Ben McEntaggart, Shane Crosby; Cormac Reilly, Dylan Regan; Paddy Skehan (0-5,3s), Jack Walsh (1-1), Conor Fitzpatrick (0-1) ;David Quirke (0-2), Duggie Dillon, Patrick Leahy. Subs - Derek Loughran for D Dillon (17), Jake Regan for McEntaggart (bs 54-56), Jake Regan for Skehan (58)
Boardsmill - Vinny Guy; Eric McKay, John Mitchel; Conor Darby, Niall Weir (0-3 fs), Cathal Wall, Liam O'Brien; Bert McLoughlin, Stephen Gibbons (0-1), Jim Bird, Thomas Leonard (0-1); Donal Flattery (1-2), Fergal Flattery (0-2), Niall Durkin (1-0). Subs - Sean Newman for McKay (2), Danny Dixon for B McLoughlin (ht), Conor Wall for Newman (38).
Referee - Owen Ganly (Trim)
Next: O'Mahonys v Dunderry, Boardsmill v Longwood
