A 11-minute first-half scoring blitz saw visitors Simonstown through to round two of the Feis Cup with a narrow win at Navan O'Mahonys on Sunday afternoon.
Simonstown ...... 2-9
O'Mahonys ........1-9
Simonstown responded to the concession of three early points with 2-6 without reply that left Colm O'Rourke's charges with enough in hand to withstand a third quarter rally by the home side.
Padraig McKeever exchanged passes with team captain Shane O'Rourke before firing to the net at the Brews Hill end of the ground to leave the scoreboard reading 1-5 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.
Michael Brennan netted the second goal two minutes later with Nathan O'Brien providing the assist to leave nine points between the sides.
Jake Regan pulled a point back from a free before the break when the board read 2-6 to 0-4. O'Mahonys rallied from the resumption. Within 30 seconds of the restart sub Stephen Monaghan pointed with team captain Gary O'Brien providing the assist.
A 42nd minute penalty, awarded for a foul on sub James O'Malley, was netted by Jake Regan to leave just a goal in it, 1-6 to 2-6. O'Mahonys passed up a couple of scoring chances before Alan Forde pointed in the 47th minute.
However, that was as close as O'Mahonys got to their neighbours who moved five points clear with scores from McGrath and Andrew Kearney.
Late points from Shane Gillespie and Regan (free) threw O'Mahonys a lifeline, but they were unable to close the gap in the time remaining.
Simonstown - Mark McCabe; Stephen O'Reilly, Ian O'Rourke, Niall McMahon; Rory O'Connor, Eanna Donoghue, Colin Wickham (0-1); Shane O'Rourke (0-2, 1f), Conor Sheridan (0-1); Joe Lyons, Padraig McKeever (1-0), Brian McGrath (0-2, 1f); Nathan O'Brien (0-1), Michael Brennan (1-1, 0-1 45), Andrew Kearney (0-1). Subs - Aaron Farrelly for O'Reilly (bc 25), Michael O'Rourke for Wickham (50), Wickham for Sheridan (bc 58).
O'Mahonys - David Quirke; Darragh Smyth, Niall McKeigue, Darragh Maguire; Shane Crosby (0-1), James O'Reilly, Gary O'Brien; Cormac McGuinness (0-2), Mark Ward; Henry Finnegan, Rory Maguire, Alan Forde (0-1); Shane Gillespie (0-1), Jake Regan (1-3, 1-0 pen, 0-3 fs), Ross Geraghty. Subs - Stephen Monaghan for Ward (24), James O'Reilly for Crosby (24), Robbie Keeleghan (0-1) for Geraghty (25), Brian Dillon for Forde (50).
Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)