Back in the senior ranks after a two-year sojourn at intermediate level, O'Mahonys comfortably retained their status and were within a kick of the ball of making the knockout stages. Under the joint tutelage of Brendan Murray and Michael Downes they went into the final game in Group A of the SFC against Dunboyne on the evening of Sunday, August 22, knowing that they had to better Dunshaughlin's result to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time in six years. Even though Trim did them a favour by beating Dunshaughlin, O'Mahony's couldn't fulfill their part of the bargain and lost out by the minimum margin 0-10 to 2-5 at Ratoath. Kevin Reilly had the misfortune to see two late attempts miss the target, but his emergence as a talent of real substance at this level was one of the highlights of the year for the Brews Hill club. He was also a member of the St Patrick's Classical School team that won the All-Ireland Colleges title and was at centre-back on the Meath minor football team that los to Laois in the opening round of the Leinster championship when he had the misfortune to be sent of off on receipt of a second yellow card. Reilly also visited Australia with the International Rules under 18 side. The versatile dual player began the year with the club's junior B side and after making two appearances with the JFC team, made his senior championship debut against Skryne at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, July 10, marking the occasion with an impressive showing at full-forward as the town side scored a 1-13 to 0-10 win over the eventual champions. Alongside him that day was his elder brother Alan, who was very effective as a third midfielder as the team recovered from a third round hammering by local rivals Simonstown to post good results against Skryne and Dunshaughlin. O'Mahony's opened with a 1-13 to 1-7 win over Gaeil Colmcille at Carlanstown on Sunday, April 18. They were 1-12 to 0-2 clear by the three-quarter stage before losing concentration a little in the latter stages and while some of the five yellow cards picked up could have been avoided. Failure to beat the struggling Kells-side by a wider margin was to prove costly at the end of the campaign. Six days later, it was back to the same venue, one of the few in the county to provide covered accommodation for reporters, for a clash with Ballinlough. The north county side looked to be on the verge of causing a major upset when leading by 0-7 to 0-2 at half-time. O'Mahonys adopted a more measured approach in the second-half and were lifted by a goal from team captain, Kenny McGuirk. Things began to unravel for Ballinlough following the dismissal of Joey Byrne on receipt of a second yellow card. Worse was to follow for them with the dismissal of substitute Phillip O'Brien, along with O'Mahonys' David Murtagh following a brief flare-up involving players from both sides. The Navan side made sure of their second brace of points with a late goal from David Hosie, who finished with 1-4. A five-week break followed before the meeting with Simonstown at Pairc Tailteann on the evening of Sunday, May 30 for only the third senior championship clash between the clubs. O'Mahony's scored a narrow win the 1997 semi-final and two years later the north Navan side evened the score with victory in at Walterstown courtesy of goal from a late penalty awarded for a foot-block. This time there was to be no disputing the outcome as Colm O'Rourke's charges toyed with their neighbours and eventually winning by 1-15 to 0-6 after leading by 1-8 to 0-2 at half-time. Another five-week break elapsed before the fourth round clash with Skryne. County players Shane McKeigue and Stephen MacGabhann were absent through injury while David Hosie sat out the game after returning from his honeymoon. On his SFC debut, Kevin Reilly gave his marker, Skryne skipper John Quinn, a torrid time and set up Thomas Loughran for the only goal that boosted O'Mahonys to a 1-5 to 0-5 interval advantage. The teenager was unfortunate not to mark the occasion with a couple of goals. A 1-13 to 0-10 victory left them in third place in group A, just two points behind leaders Trim, but they could not replicate that result in their final three matches. The county ground was again the setting for their fifth round clash with Dunshaughlin on Tuesday, July 27. O'Mahonys found themselves five points in arrears after only eleven minutes. David Hosie, recalled to replace Stephen Bray who was on holidays, opened the O'Mahonys account and they went in at the break trailing by 0-5 to 0-9. Kevin Reilly's goal ten minutes after the restart, the first conceded by Dunshaughlin in the championship, gave O'Mahony's the edge going into the final stages. The goalscorer departed late on with an arm injury that thankfully proved not too serious. With a little bit more composure, they would have held out for victory that in hindsight have propelled them into the quarter-finals, but had to settle for a sharing of the spoils following a late leveler by Niall Kelly. By the time Trim and O'Mahony's met at Pairc Tailteann on the evening of Sunday, August 8, Eamon McEneaney's charges were already through to the quarter-finals. Stephen Bray was still on holidays, while Shane McKeigue was still sidelined by the injury he received playing for Meath against Fermanagh in the All-Ireland qualifier five weeks earlier. O'Mahony's received a further setback with the early withdrawal of Alan Reilly with a finger injury. They fell four points in arrears before Kevin Reilly rifled home a brilliant goal, for what proved to be their only score from play in a very poor performance, in which their only tactic seemed to be the long ball directed towards their teenage full-forward. After trailing 1-1 to 0-5 at half-time, they went on to lose by 1-2 to 0-9. That defeat by Dunboyne drew the curtain down on their first season back in the top flight. Since then Brendan Murray, who was in charge of the side that won IFC honours in 2003, has stepped down with Michael Downes taking over the reins. The club had its best league campaign for some time finishing fifth in Division 1, opening with wins over Simonstown (home) and Skryne (away) before being held by a visiting Dunshaughlin. Defeats followed against Dunboyne (away) and Trim (home) before a big win at Seneschalstown provided a timely boost eight days after the hammering by Simonstown in the championship. Kevin Reilly made a big impact when introduced as a substitute at Walterstown, where the visitors put in a strong finish to pilfer the points and this was followed by a home win over Kilmainhamwood. However, a home defeat by Summerhill ended their interest in the competition and they concluded the campaign away from home with a defeat by Blackhall Gaels and a win at St Patrick's. Peter O'Toole took charge of a junior side that had lost the two previous semi-finals. Operating in the ultra competitive Group C, the campaign with wins over Moynalty, Ratoath and Drumbaragh. Managing a club's second string can be a thankless task and priority is understandably given to the first team. Narrow defeats by Dunsany and Ballinabrackey put qualification at risk, before a win over Kilbride revived hopes of advancing. O'Mahony's raced into a six points lead in the final game against Moynalvey only to be pipped at the post. In the B FL Division 1, O'Toole's charges just missed out on a final place on scoring difference. Another great servant of the club, Brian O'Grady took charge of the third team. Held to a draw by Moynalvey in the opening round of the JFC B they ran eventual winners, Longwood to a point. But the pressure to field teams took its toll in the remainder of the group stages and they were eventually forced to concede the points to eventual runners-up, Walterstown . At under age level, the minors were unseated by Summerhill at the semi-final stage, while the under 14s reached the final only to be well beaten by an outstanding St Cianan's outfit. They did however gain some consolation by claiming the Under 14 Division 2 FL crown at the expense of Blackhall Gaels. The under 13 side lost out to a strong St Martin's combination in the final at Donore on October 31 thereby missing out on a place at next year's All-Ireland Feile na nOg. Women's football received a tremendous boost with victory in the Junior B championship. Under the guidance of Gary O'Hare, they proved too strong for Moynalvey, beating them by 6-10 to 0-4 in the final at Simonstown on Sunday, August 22. The team was - O'Mahony's - Orla Shiels; Jenny Barnwell, Orla Foley, Kate O'Neill; Niamh McGrane, Daragh O'Hare, Emma Duffy; Helen Matthews, Laura Flynn (0-1); Zoe O'Connor (2-4), Kelly Duffy (2-1), Liz Oakes (1-2); Suzanna McDonagh, Elaine Coughlan (1-0), Paula Cassells (captain) (0-1). Subs - Maria Flynn (0-1) for McDonagh, Kelly O'Brien for Coughlan, Muireann Hogan for O'Neill, Rachel Barry for Barnwell, Rebecca Rogers for Oakes. At the time of writing, the Under 21 footballers were preparing for a final tilt at Seneschalstown. Cathal O'Bric's charges reached this stage with wins over Summerhill (holders), Dunsany and Dunboyne after a replay. Mullin pulls no punches Kevin Mullin has done much to promote hurling at Navan O'Mahony's and is convinced more can be done to develop our national game in the county. The Galway native believes there is too much emphasis on football in the county and that the hurling committee has no real power when it comes to running the game in Meath. And he should know, after he was chairman of the board for one term in 2002. "I would like to see the county board introduce a master fixture list that will be adhered to," he adds, "we're heading towards December and we've had no matches in the under 21 hurling championship and the Doherty Cup and O'Growney Cups have not been finished." Indeed details of the club's record breaking achievement of winning seven under 21 hurling titles in a row came too late for inclusion in last year's edition of Royal County. Navan O'Mahony's achieved the feat by overcoming Boardsmill in the 2002 decider played at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday, November 23, 2003. Shane McKeigue scored both goals and was later mistakenly dismissed as the Brews Hill side triumphed by 2-9 to 1-8 after leading by 0-6 to 0-4 at the break. The Navan O'Mahony's team that brought the Under 21 hurling championship to the club for the seventh time running was - Brian Daly; Kevin O'Rourke, Seamus Duignan (Captain), Mark O'Rourke; Paddy Smith, Paul Connell, Cormac Reilly; Mark Ward, Gary O'Brien; Kevin Reilly, Damien Moran, Thomas Loughran (0-3); Derek Loughran (0-4), Barry Regan (0-2), Shane McKeigue (2-0). Subs - Ciaran Dunphy for Cormac Reilly, Graham Macken for Dunphy. Seven days later the remarkable run ended with a 0-8 to 0-9 defeat by Kilmessan at Dunderry in the 2003 semi-final. Thomas Loughran played in all seven final successes while Paul Connell featured in the latter six and was introduced as a substitute in the other. It is not surprising that Mullin is not enamoured with the protracted format of the senior football championship. "It's ridiculous that you can lose three games and still reach the final," he remarks. He also points out that the introduction of the Christy Ring trophy for weaker counties is going to add an extra burden to an already overcrowded fixture list. "I would hate to see the day when county players would not play for their club. The clubs are already taking a bit hit but much can be done with proper planning," he points out. "Most dual clubs are finding it difficult and if a club wants hurling then they will have to look after it. Provision has to be made for dual players. It is demoralising on players to be training in small groups. I'm not blaming any individual just the system in general," says the man who returned to the helm of the O'Mahony's hurling team in 2004. He was assisted by Liam Kerrane, Michael Regan, Eamon Dunphy and Con Ryan. "They worked hard under great pressure," according to the manager. O'Mahony's opened their SHC campaign on Monday, May 24 with a 0-12 to 1-9 draw with Longwood at Kildalkey, the day after Meath beat Wicklow in the Leinster SFC at Croke Park. They were without a number of key players due to exams, injuries and other commitments. David Connell and John Burke had departed the scene while Thomas Loughran was struggling to be fully fit. Niall McKeigue had played for the county footballers the previous day while his brother Shane was injured. Barry Regan was a long-term absentee having picked up a hand injury playing football back in February. Still they had enough chances to win the game despite finishing the hour with just 13 men after Sean Kane and Richie Hogan picked up two yellow cards each. Hopes of third consecutive semi-final appearance suffered another setback when O'Mahony's lost out to holders Kilmessan by 1-13 to 0-9 at Athboy on Thursday, June 3. Barry Regan returned for this game but Richie Hogan was suspended, while the Brews Hill side lacked a cutting edge in attack and managed just two scores from play. There was no midsummer delight when they took on Dunboyne at Sean Eiffe Park, Ratoath on the evening of Monday, June 21, the day after Meath's exit from the Leinster SFC. Dual players and county footballers Niall and Shane McKeigue were absent, as was Tommy O'Connor for Dunboyne, who were well clear going in the final minutes before a two-goal burst saw Padraig Coone and Derek Loughran find the net. Top-scorer Ciaran Dunphy had a chance to pilfer the points for O'Mahony's but his close range free deep in stoppage time was deflected over the bar by Dunboyne goalkeeper, Stephen Reilly as the Navan side suffered their second defeat in three outings, this time by the narrowest margin, 2-13 to 3-11. The result ended the club's hopes of a first senior hurling title since 1986 and worse still left them looking over their shoulders at the relegation trap door. Such concerns were eased with a 4-12 to 1-9 win over promoted Drumree at Kilmessan on Sunday, July 4. For the third time in the campaign SHC fixtures were fixed for the day after the Meath team played a senior football championship game. A scoring burst that yielded 2-5 in a 16-minute spell set the town side on their way to the first win in four starts. Ciaran Dunphy top scored with 0-9 while Thomas Loughran (two), Edward Duignan and Derek Loughran were the goalscorers. Senior status was finally safe guarded with a 2-15 to 0-9 win over Dunderry in the final round of group matches in a hard-hitting encounter at Trim on the evening of Saturday, July 17. Regular goalkeeper James Burke lined out at full-forward with Trevor Donohoe filling in between the posts. Trailing 0-6 to 0-9 at the break, Mullin's charges upped their game in the second-half and added 2-9 without reply in a fractured second period that extended into nearly ten minutes of stoppage time. Donal Fitzsimons and Thomas Loughran were the goalscorers while Ciaran Dunphy's total just reached double figures. Having won the junior hurling title in the previous year, O'Mahony's second string operated in the intermediate ranks in 2004. They opened with a 0-9 to 0-14 defeat by the Clann na nGael, runners-up in the previous campaign, on the evening of Saturday, May 15, nine days before their senior campaign began. Ciaran Dunphy, who missed most of the senior championship in 2003 clocked up eight points with John Gleeson getting the other. A week later they recorded a 2-9 to 1-8 win over Wolfe Tones, the side demoted from senior ranks at the end of the previous term, at Athboy. The pressure of defection to the senior ranks ultimately forced the team to withdraw from the competition and they were demoted by to junior ranks. The club fielded a third team, managed by Martin Smith, in the JHC 2, but despite his best efforts they failed to make a big impression. Pat Roche was a full-back on the county senior team that exited the Leinster SHC to Laois at the first hurdle while Padraig Coone lined out at corner-forward and scored three points as Meath outscored Roscommon by 1-17 to 1-9 in the first round of the All-Ireland B championship. Coone was at right-half-forward as Meath exited the competition to Kildare by the narrowest margin after extra time in the semi-final at Parnell Park, Dublin by 3-15 to 4-13. There was much better fortune for the club's two representatives on the county' junior hurling side. Trevor Donohoe manned the goals and Seamus Duignan was at right-corner-back on the team that overcame a slow start to defeat Down by 1-10 to 1-6 in the All-Ireland hurling final at Clones on Saturday, August 14. Duignan was later chosen on the Green Stars hurling team while Ciaran Dunphy and William O'Flynn made the replacements panel. At underage level the club has experienced a down turn in fortunes in recent times, but they did make the under 12 final where they lost out to Trim by 1-2 to 4-3 at Kiltale on Sunday, November 7. The O'Mahonys team was - John Foley, Barry McEvoy, James Murphy, Jamie Shaffrey, Macdara Fitzpatrick, Conor Murray, Brian Dillon, Conor Finnegan, Stephen Power, Stephen Swords, Stephen Joyce, Mark Byrne, Ciaran McConnell. Subs - David Dillon for Byrne, Ciaran Murray for Joyce The under 13 hurling team also reached their final but had to give best to Kilmessan on a 3-5 to 2-3 scoreline, thus missing out on a place in next year's Feile na nGael. In the game's centenary year, camogie in the club received a boost with a 5-8 to 5-2 win over Kilmessan in the junior final under the guidance of Pat Roche at Boardsmill on Saturday, September 4. Kelly O'Brien netted three goals while Laura Flynn did well when switched to centre-back. The victorious O'Mahonys was - Laura Carolan, Aodaoin O'Sullivan, Muireann Hogan(Capt), Sharon King, Aileen Kane, Elaine Coughlan, Sarah Ross, Laura Flynn, Liz Oakes(0-2), Zoe O'Connor(0-2), Lorraine Horgan(1-4), Sarah Heary, Kelly O'Brien (3-0), Sarah Crosby, Maria Flynn(1-0). Tweet

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