Navan O'Mahonys retained their SHC status when outscoring Na Fianna in the relegation decider at Ratoath on Sunday morning.

Navan O'Mahonys  1-11
Na Fianna 0-5

O'Mahonys outscored Na Fianna by 1-6 to 0-0 in the final third of this fixture and had moved four points clear before fortune favoured them in the 58th minute

Sub John Foley had scored three points following his 40th minute introduction. Then a Vinny Moore free from midfield was adjudged by the umpires to have crossed the goal line at the clubhouse end.

That left it 1-9 to 0-5 before David Troy's men copper fastened the outcome with late points from Foley and Moore as O'Mahonys retained the senior status gained on the back of their 1997 IHC win.

The scoring contributions of Moore and Foley apart, O'Mahonys' success was founded on a strong defence where Cormac Reilly and Jack Walsh formed an effective central spine.

Apart from a brief period in the opening half, they were never headed. Having been reeled-in twice after the break, O'Mahonys chalked up the next score.

Having outscored O'Mahonys by 0-4 to 0-1 within seven minutes of the resumption, to leave the scores tied for the third and final time, Na Fianna failed to score again.

Richie Hogan's 42nd minute point saw O'Mahonys regain a lead, 0-6 to 0-5, they retained to the end.

The 11.00 start didn't find Na Fianna wanting as within 20 seconds of the off Mark Slevin pointed them in front - for the only time - with assistance from Diarmuid Bailey.

Surprisingly, Kit Ennis' men didn't register a score for the remainder of the opening half during which time they chalked up eight wides.

A 0-1 to 0-4 interval deficit was surmountable for the Baconstown-Enfield side. Within four minutes of the restart Na Fianna were on level terms thank to points from Diarmuid Bailey, Jonathan Bailey and Barry Slevin (free).

Barry Slevin and Paddy Skehan exchanged pointed frees to level matters for the third and final time. O'Mahonys inched clear of their south county opponents and retain their senior status as Na Fianna surrended the ranking gained at the end of 2006.

O'Mahonys - John Gleeson; Nigel Ryan, Cormac Reilly, Damien Moran; Andrew Snow, Jack Walsh, Shane Crosby; Richie Hogan (0-1), Mikey Kelly; David Quirke (0-1), David Dillon (0-1), Vinny Moore (1-2, 1-0 f); Peter McLoughlin; Paddy Skehan (0-2 fs), Derek Loughran. Subs - John Foley (0-4, 1f 1 65) for Loughran (40), Stephen Quirke for Skehan (43), James Murphy for S Quirke (47), Donal Hogan for McLoughlin (53).

Na Fianna - Davy Reilly; Noel O'Sullivan, Davy Gleeson, Mark Burke; Noel O'Sullivan, Mark Kelly, Niall Reilly, Christy Cosgrave; Diarmuid Bailey (0-2), Barry Slevin (0-2, 1f); Shane Burke, Donal Curran, Eoin Reilly; Mark Slevin (0-1), Daniel Boggan, Peter Slevin. Subs - Jonathan Reilly (0-1) for E Reilly, Sean Griffin for Donal Curran.

Referee - Conor Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille)

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