Navan O'Mahonys 2-12
Rathmolyon 2-9

Rathmolyon cashed in their senior status when losing to 14-man Navan O'Mahonys in a closely contested SHC relegation decider at Trim on Sunday evening.

It was a bitter-sweet outcome for O'Mahonys' manager Johnny Gorry, who oversaw a spirited second-half showing that condemned his home club to the intermediate ranks.

Seven unanswered points in the final quarter saw a fitter Navan O'Mahonys' side - that contained a significant number of the club's senior footballers - home by a narrow margin.

Paddy Skehan's accuracy from placed balls was crucial to a more economical O'Mahonys outfit that posted just six wides in contrast to 14 for Rathmolyon.

The poaching instincts of Shane McKeigue yielded two first-half goals that kept O'Mahonys in contention when Rathmolyon's stickwork gave them the edge.

Niall McKeigue started the fight-back with a point from play before dropping deep to dig out his side's defence in the the latter stages.

Three pointed Skehan frees levelled mattters before the same player's second point from play saw O'Mahonys regain the lead in the 54th minute.

Another Skehan free from distance and a Shane McKeigue point gave O'Mahonys some leeway against a late Rathmolyon onslaught that was to no avail .

Mickey Cole was the most influential player in the opening half, pointing five times including once from play.

Darragh Smyth pointed O'Mahonys in front in the first minute. A brace Mickey Cole frees got Rathmolyon rolling before Shane McKeigue netted and it was 1-1 to 0-2 11 minutes in.

Rathmolyon responded positively and were boosted when Gary Cole flicked a long range free from his brother to the O'Mahonys net three minutes later.

O'Mahonys lost Mikey Kelly to a straight red-card in the 18th minute. Heading into first-half stoppage time Rathmolyon were four points clear but conceded 1-1 in the time remaining and it was all-square 2-3 to 1-6 at the break.

First Skehan pointed from play and McKeigue capitalised on a poor puck out to register his side's second goal with assistance from sub Colin O'Rourke.

O'Mahonys - J. Burke; C. Reilly, K. O'Rourke, S. Crosby; D. Moran, K. Reilly, P. Smyth; B. Regan (0-1, f) A. Snow; D. Smyth (0-1), P. Skehan (0-7, 5 fs), S. McKeigue (2-1); N. McKeigue (0-2), D. Murtagh, M. Kelly. Subs - C. O'Rourke for Murtagh (28), N. Ryan for Crosby (38), B. Dillon for D. Smyth (60).

Rathmolyon - S. Ennis; G. Doherty, T. Henderson, G. Whelan; M. Lynch, E. Regan, N. Cole; M. Cole (0-5, 4 fs), N. Fagan; A. Fagan, G. Cole (1-0), T. Cosgrave; J. Farrell (1-2), K. Fagan (0-1), S. Dalton (0-1). Sub - D. Whelan for N. Cole (20).

Referee - F. Smyth (Blackhall Gaels). Tweet

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