AFL Div 1: Hoops hammer below par Simonstown

February 06, 2016

David Bray Navan O'Mahonys

Navan O'Mahonys proved too good for understrength Simonstown in this A FL Division 1 opener at Paddy O'Brien Park on Friday night.

O'Mahonys ....... 2-16
Simonstown ...... 0-6

After a close opening quarter during which points from Nathan (two) and Nicky O'Brien earned the visitors an early advantage, the SFC holders took control.

Four points on the spin left it 0-5 to 0-3 after 19 minutes. An excellent Conor Sheridan score temporarily halted O'Mahonys' gallop.

A well-struck Cathal Smyth 27th minute penalty following a foul on Alan Forde earned David Nelson's men a 1-7 to 0-4 interval advantage.

Four minutes into the second-half Nathan O'Brien (free) pulled a point back for Colm O'Rourke's men.

It only offered temporary respite for Simonstown as they were outscored by 1-9 to 0-1 over the remainder of the game.

David Bray's brilliantly struck goal at the Brews Hill end got the sequence going. Former county star Stephen Bray extended the lead with scores from play and frees.

Just before the end of the third quarter Joe Lyons went close to pulling a goal back for Simonstown when his shot went narrowly wide. The same player posted Simonstown's final score shortly after.

O'Mahonys closed out the hour with five points from play from as many different players: David Bray, Stephen Bray, Alan Forde, Cathal Smyth and Cormac McGuinness.

O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Conor Doyle, Niall McKeigue, Darragh Maguire; Brian Dillon, Gary O'Brien, James O'Reilly; Cormac McGuinness (0-1), Conor Finnegan; Alan Forde (0-2), Stephen Bray (0-5, 2fs), Rory Maguire (0-1); Shane Gillespie (0-4, 2fs), David Bray (1-1), Cathal Smyth (1-2, 1-0 pen). Subs - Stephen Monaghan for Finnegan (bc 41), David Quirke for Brennan (52), Andy Leech for O'Reilly (53), Kevin O'Hanlon for Dillon (59).

Simonstown - Robert Burlingham; Eanna Donoghue, Brendan O'Donnell, Shane Gallagher; Mark Gardiner, Niall Mahon, Conor Wickham; Conor Sheridan (0-1), Shane Barry; Niall McMahon, Joe Lyons (0-1), Stephen Moran, Nicky O'Brien (0-1), Mark McCabe, Nathan O'Brien (0-3, 1f). Subs - Brian McGrath for McMahon (bc 27), Michael Brennan for Mahon (bc 36).

Referee - David Gough (Slane)


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