2011 was a historic year for the hurlers of Navan O'Mahonys, with a first junior championship success since 1999. This was backed up by a rare county final appearance for the seniors. Royal County examined the memorable season for the town hurlers who have been sponsored by The Valley Café for the past five years.

For decades, Navan O'Mahonys have been renowned nationwide as the top dogs in Meath club football but 2011 saw the town club firmly make their mark on the hurling front on the county.
Having claimed their first junior hurling championship success in 12 years, O'Mahonys came so close to topping the superb feat when the reached the senior championship final, but in the end came up just short in their bid for a first triumph in the grade since 1986.

The last few years have been a journey for O'Mahonys as they've upped their bid for silverware in the small ball game, and there to support the journey has been their club sponsors at The Valley Café.
Orazio Forte is the owner of the family business which is addressed at 43 Watergate Street in Navan town and says he has been more than glad to help out the club over the last few years.
"My wife's family started the business 50 years ago and who are still involved in the running of the business, at the moment we employ 16 staff here between part-time and full-time," Orazio explained.
"We have been proud to sponsor Navan O'Mahonys hurlers for the last couple of years and hopefully we can continue. Business is good at the moment, so we are happy to keep sponsoring the O'Mahonys."

In September, the club's endeavours came to the fore when their junior side entered into the county championship final off the back of some terrific form which they displayed in the earlier rounds.
In the final, Boardsmill would pose the challenge which John Gorry's charges rose to at Pairc Tailteann to construct a seven-point advantage having played with the strong wind in the opening half and they had just enough in hand to see off a strong rally from their opponents.

When Derek McMullan landed a 65 at the hospital end in the 49th minute, O'Mahonys had opened up a nine point lead, 1-12 to 1-6. Substitute Donal Flattery's goal ignited the Boardsmill recovery while Sean Dixon's six-point contribution (five from frees) also helped their cause.
After sub Dylan Regan was wide from a tight angle with a goal attempt for O'Mahonys, Boardsmill midfielder Conor Darby sent over at the town end. O'Mahonys 'keeper Shane O'Brien kept out a goal attempt by Dixon from a close range free. Earlier in the half, Boardsmill goalkeeper Shane O'Brien had a goal attempt from a 20-metre free kept out by O'Mahonys' defender Martin Sherlock.

Points in the latter stages from team captain John Gleeson and county footballer Stephen Bray secured possession of the Royal Meath Association Cup for O'Mahonys. John Flood's goal for Boardsmill in the last action of the game was too late to aid the cause of the team in sky blue.
O'Mahonys had drawn first blood with a pointed McMullan free which was followed by a Vinny Moore effort from play. Wind-assisted O'Mahonys led by 0-4 to 0-2 at the end of the opening quarter as a brace of Sean Dixon pointed frees kept Boardsmill in the hunt.

Boardsmill 'keeper Peter McLoughlin saved smartly from Barry McEvoy's goal attempt midway through the half. The margin was down to a single point when Dixon registered Boardsmill's first score from play in the 17th minute. O'Mahonys responded a McMullan goal in the 20th minute which quickly followed by another Moore point and by half-time a seven-point lead for the town side would prove sufficient enough for them to land the title for the first time since 1999.

Navan O'Mahonys (JHC final v Boardsmill): S O'Brien; G Power, P Connell, M Sherlock; D Cleere, M O'Rourke, J Walsh; E Divilly (0-1), J Regan; V Moore (0-3), J Gleeson (0-1), N Ryan; B McEvoy, D McMullan (1-6, 0-5 fs, 0-1 65), P McLoughlin (0-2). Subs: M Mulhall for Ryan (35), S Bray (0-1) for McEvoy (37), D Regan for McLoughlin (45), C McGuinness for Moore (50), D Tolster for Divilly (58).

Three weeks after the historic triumph, O'Mahony's senior squad made their way into a first Meath SHC final after edging Kiltale by 1-12 to 1-11 in a thrilling semi-final in Navan.
Defending champions and three-in-a-row chasing Kildalkey awaited in the county final at Pairc Tailteann, where a sizzling start made all the difference for the winners.

Two early goals cushioned Kildalkey against the best O'Mahonys could muster. Having fashioned an eight-point interval advantage, the champions managed the first score of the second-half through top marksman Noel Kirby.
Mikey Kelly pulled a point back for the town side before 'man-of-the-match' Derek Doran got in for this second goal and ten points separated the sides with 44 minutes gone, 3-8 to 0-7. The sides shared six points in the final quarter with a Barry Regan effort from play for O'Mahonys being the pick of those half-dozen scores.
James Burke was still the busier of the two 'keeper while his Kildalkey counterpart Conor Flynn was well protected by his defence. The rain eased in the latter stages while Sean Heavey closed the scoring with a fine effort from distance while Kildalkey emptied their bench to give as many of their players as possible the chance to savour the occasion.

O'Mahonys used their quota of replacements and one of them Derek McMullan posted their final score of the game, which saw the full-time score-line read 3-11 to 0-10 in Kildalkey's favour.
Navan O'Mahonys (SHC final v Kildalkey): J Burke; C Reilly, R Hogan, D Hogan; D Moran, K O'Rourke, S Crosby; N McKeigue, P Smyth; B Dillon, P Skehan, S McKeigue; M Kelly, B Regan, A Snow. Subs: G Kelly for Conneely (50), F McMahon for Fox (51), F Doran for P Keogh (60), D Lahart for Corrigan (60), D Harmon for D. Doran (60). Tweet

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