SFC: O'Mahonys win secures second spot in Group B

August 30, 2014

Jake Regan - Navan O'Mahonys

Navan O'Mahonys outscored Walterstown in this round five fixture at a windy Simonstown on Friday evening to secure second spot in the hoganstand.com SFC Group B.

Navan O'Mahonys 3-15
Walterstown 0-7

The outcome sends O'Mahonys into the quarter-finals while this result combined with outcomes elsewhere consigns Walterstown to the relegation play-offs.

Both teams had to cope with a significant cross wind at the north Navan venue, but O'Mahonys had a significant deposit on the points at half-time when leading by 2-7 to 0-4

Their scoring rate slackened as conditions worsened in the second-half. An weather improvement in the latter stages was the cue for the Brews Hill outfit to close out the game with 1-2.

Slick combination provided the foundation for O'Mahonys third win of the campaign while Darragh Smyth was particularly impressive. All six starting forwards scored from play while 0-4 of the winners' tally came from placed balls.

Just two Walterstown points' came from play. By the end Navan O'Mahonys had eight players on the scoresheet. Though it took them nearly five minutes to get off the mark, they had 2-4 on the board early in the second quarter.

The opening goal arrived in the sixth minute with Ruairi O Coileain netting with aplomb with Damien Moran, Darragh Smyth and Alan Forde in supporting roles.

Strong tackling led to scoring opportunities as O'Mahonys put some distance between themselves and Walterstown. The second goal arrived in the 17th minute, a cracking finish by Smyth after an incisive run.

Ruairi O'Dowd's 24th minute point was Walterstown's sole score from play in the first half. O'Mahonys closed out the half with fine efforts from David Bray and wing-back James O'Reilly. The last act of the half saw Jake Regan land a 45, just as he opened the scoring.

Within a minute of the restart David Bray fisted over after his elder brother hit the post with a point attempt. O'Mahonys added five points in the third quarter as conditions worsened.

Stephen Bray's second score was the pick of them while Shane Gillespie's 40th minute effort left all six starting forwards on the score sheet. Seconds later O Coileain blazed over to leave it 2-13 to 0-4.

As conditions worsened O'Mahonys went 15 minutes without scoring while Walterstown did marginally better in this phase of the game.

Sub Robbie McDonnell pointed twice (one free) for Walterstown before O'Mahonys closed out with a mini-flourish with Jake Regan posting 1-1 from play.

Navan O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Stephen O'Toole, Niall McKeigue, Ian Matthews; James O'Reilly (0-1), Shane Crosby, Darragh Smyth (1-0); Gary O'Brien Damien Moran;  Ruairi O Coileain (1-1), Stephen Bray (0-2), Alan Forde (0-2); Shane Gillespie (0-2), David Bray (0-2), Jake Regan (1-5, 2 45s, 2fs). Subs - Brian Dillon for McKeigue (ht), Ross Geraghty for O Coileain (43), Henry Finnegan for Matthews (bc 45), Sean Keating for D Bray (56), James O'Malley for O'Reilly (60).

Walterstown - John Davis; John Geoghegan, David Reynolds, Eoin O'Mahony; Peter Reynolds, David Maguire, Conor O'Sullivan; Alban Crosbie, Mark Reynolds (0-1f); David Donnellan, Christopher Reynolds, Joey Coogan (0-1f); Paul Donnellan (0-1f), Ruairi O'Dowd (0-2, 1f), Raymond Reynolds. Subs - Cathal Hennelly for R Reynolds (25), Colm Reilly for Coogan (ht), Robbie McDonnell (0-2, 1f) for P Donnellan (39), Aaron McLoughlin for C Reynolds (60).

Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha)


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