Dunshaughlin 2-12
O'Mahonys  1-14

A determined Dunshaughlin team took to the field in this Div 1 B league clash to make right a lackluster performance in their last league match in this game played in ideal conditions in Dunshaughlin.

It was O'Mahonys who drew first blood in the opening minute but a converted Martin Reilly free and 'pints' from Niall Murphy and Joe O'Brien  and two more O'Mahonys points on the 9th and 10 minutes had the black and amber  up by a point after 16 mins. With Joe O'Brien giving an exhibition on high fielding in the middle of the field for Dunshaughlin and his running at the O'Mahonys defense was causing them all sorts of problems seen his hard work being rewarded when  his free after 23 mins was converted.

O'Mahonys to their credit were tagging on some lovely scores and found themselves up by 1 point after 26 mins but an expertly dispatched Martin Reilly goal following some classy play from Centre back Niall Murphy put the black and amber 1 point up. O'Mahonys were to finish the half stronger and managed to score two more points and went in leading by 1 point at half time  but they could very easily have got a goal but thankfully for Dunshaughlin their goalkeeper Ronan Gogan was on hand to make a fantastic save at close range to deny Henry Finnegan a certain goal.

It was the men from Navan who came out of the blocks quicker in the second half with them getting two unanswered scores but this seemed to awaken Stephen Ward at full forward when he blasted over from close range while another converted Joe O'Brien free again had 1 point between the teams after 39 mins. Martin Reilly was enjoying a fine evening at Centre forward and his beautiful score from long range and his converted free ensured there was one point between the teams with O'Mahonys getting two more valuable points. A  David McMahon point for the black and amber had the teams level on 42 mins  while Stephen Ward got his second of the night one minute later to now put Dunshaughlin in front. A converted O'Mahonys free put them up by a point on 50 mins but this was cancelled out by a sublime David McMahon point for Dunshaughlin 1 minute later to ensure this was going to go to the wire. Conor Devereux up to the point had being working hard and he was on 55 mins able to score a goal from close range put  the black and amber up by two points  and 1 minute later it was Devereux again who pointed to have a favorable look on the scoreboard from a Dunshaughlin point of view.

O'Mahonys though were not finished yet and managed to get a goal back to leave now just two points between the teams and a converted injury time free now had just 1 point between the teams with Dunshaughlin holding on to secure the victory. 

This was a fine Dunshaughlin performance with Mark Devaney at times winning some precious possession for his team while Maynooth graduate Niall Murphy at Centre back giving at exhibition. Martin Reilly is showing no signs of slowing  up and he was a constant thorn in the O'Mahonys defense and his ability to convert frees is priceless for Dunshaughlin. However big Joe O'Brien tonight was outstanding for Dunshaughlin and he gets my nod for the gold watch with him giving an exhibition in the middle of the field. However at the end of the day this is only a game of  football and Dunshaughlin GAA would like to wish James O'Malley a speedy recovery following an injury near the end of the game and to thank the Navan O'Mahonys medic  for her quick thinking and expertise and the local emergency services, speedy recovery James.

Dunshaughlin - R. Gogan, C. Hoary, K. McTigue, G. Flanagan, T. Johnson, N, Murphy (0-01), D. Kealy, P. McHale, J. O'Brien (0-03), C. Devereux (1-01), M. Reilly (1-04), M. Devaney, N. Byrne, S. Ward (0-02), D. McMahon (0-01). Subs - E. Farrelly for G.Flanagan, J. Rattigan for T. Johnson, D.Geraghty for D.Kealy, B.Duggan for N.Byrne.

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