Three late goals earned O'Mahonys a narrow win over Boardsmill that secured senior status for the Navan-men at a wet and dark Trim on Wednesday
O'Mahonys ...... 4-9
Boardsmill ....... 1-15
This rearranged round one fixture was billed as a relegation decider with both teams failing to take a point from their opening three games.
James Burke's men were 1-7 to 0-12 off the pace in the 54th minute before full-forward Barry McEvoy poached a goal at the town end to restore their lead.
Moments later a Liam O'Brien free leveled matters for the fifth time and when the same player pointed a 65 in the first minute of added time, the pendulum was swaying towards the 'Mill.
The concession of that 65 by goalkeeper Shane Flannery from Evan Dixon's goal attempt ultimately threw a lifeline to the team in hoops.
Stoppage time produced another twist with Jack Walsh's point attempt winding up in the Boardsmill net. The same player then pointed from deep inside his own half.
Things got even better for O'Mahonys in the fifth minute of added time when McEvoy netted his second goal.
The outcome looked a done deal but Bernard McLoughlin's goal in the sixth minute of stoppage left left just three points between the teams.
There were no further scores though the clock was ticking towards the end of the seventh minute of additional time before proceedings were ended.
O'Mahonys goals bookended the contest. Five minutes in Dylan Regan pounced for the opener when Paddy Dillon's point attempt rebounded off an upright.
O'Mahonys moved four points clear - despite playing into the wind - twice in the opening 17 minutes.
Despite nearly leaking a second goal, Boardsmill settled and responded with five points on the bounce to hit the front for the first time 25 minutes in through Conal Bird.
Sean Dixon and Niall Durkan played supporting roles for the score that came moments after Stephen Gibbons leveled matters for the first time.
A John Foley pointed free leveled matters for the second time. A similar score from O'Brien left Boardsmill 0-8 to 1-4 ahead at half-time.
The scores were level on three further occasions after the break. Boardsmill moved three points clear by the 43rd minute, 0-11 to 1-5.
As the O'Mahonys' wide count increased, Boardsmill looked set to prevail until that late goal surge settled matters.
O'Mahonys - Shane Flannery; Andrew Kenny, Shane Crosby, Mark Usher; James Murphy, Ben McEntaggert, Conor Cullen; Patrick Leahy, Jack Walsh (1-4, 0-1 f); Dylan Regan (1-1), John Foley (0-3 fs), Conor Fitzpatrick (0-1); Paddy Dillon, Barry McEvoy (2-0), Paddy Skehan. Subs - Marcus Stapleton for Cullen, Stefan Dineen for Skehan.
Boardsmill - Mark Hatton; Eric McKay, Jim Bird, Conor Darby; Cian Royston, Liam O'Brien (0-6, 4fs, 2 65s), John Mitchell; Cathal Wall, Stephen Gibbons (0-2); David Farrell (0-1), Conal Bird (0-1), Evan Dison; Niall Durkan (0-1), Sean Dixon (0-3 fs), Tommy Leonard (0-1). Subs - James Durkan for Farrell, Bernard McLoughlin (1-0) for Dixon, Sean Newman for Wall.
Referee - Owen Ganly (Trim)