IHC semi-final: Kelly's double the difference
September 17, 2017
Mikey Kelly Navan O'Mahonys
Mikey Kelly's brace of goals were the difference as Navan O'Mahonys fended off Kildalkey in an IHC semi-final at Athboy on Sunday morning.
O'Mahonys ...... 2-11
Kildalkey .......... 1-8
Kelly finished with 2-2 from play with his second goal central to the outcome. There was calls for a 'square' ball when the corner-forward directed Paddy Skehan's long distance free to the net.
It left the board nearby reading 2-7 to 1-6 with almost 38 minutes gone. It was the break James Burke's men needed to fend off Kildalkey's resilient second string side.
O'Mahonys bossed the first quarter with Mikey Kelly's sixth minute goal boosting them to a 1-4 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes.
Paddy Skehan's points played a major part in this win. He landed two frees following the second goal.
O'Mahonys might have won by a wider margin had they capitalised on a couple of goal chances in the 15 minutes after half-time.
The final quarter produced just three points - including a free and 65 for Skehan. Kildalkey's Ross Flynn brought his total to 0-7 with a stoppage time free.
As Kildalkey pressed in the final quarter, the O'Mahonys' rearguard came to the fore. Diarmuid Rogers, Mark Usher and James Murphy were notably impressive.
O'Mahonys are one step closer to an immediate return to senior ranks and sprung from the traps with a goal and a point inside three minutes.
Skehan sent over the opener from play. Then Kelly made his first impression. Kildalkey responded through Brian Conneely.
By the start of the second quarter there were five points in it after Kelly pointed with help from Skehan.
Kildalkey outscored O'Mahonys by 1-3 to 0-1 over the remainder of the half. Flynn's accuracy from placed balls improved matters for the team in white and blue.
O'Mahonys won by 11 points when the sides met in the round robin stage. This developed into a very close contest here when Aaron Byas netted 20 minutes in when getting on the end of goalkeeper Stephen Masterson's long range free.
Bolstered by momentum Kildalkey closed out the half with two Flynn frees to tie the scores at 1-5-each at the break.
Another Flynn free had Kildalkey in front within a minute of resumption. O'Mahonys wasted little time in levelling through Skehan with assistance from Dylan Regan.
Kelly restored O'Mahonys' lead when there seemed to be a goal for the taking. The score inched the Brews Hill side towards the finish line and they were never subsequently reeled in.
O'Mahonys - John Gleeson; Diarmuid Rogers, Cormac Reilly, Mark Usher; James Murphy, Kevin O'Rourke, Shane Crosby; Jake Regan, Dylan Regan; Jack Walsh, Barry Regan, Paddy Skehan (0-8, 3fs 2 65s); Mikey Kelly (2-2), Richie Hogan, David Quirke (0-1). Subs - Colin O'Rourke for J Regan (48), Paddy Dillon for B Regan (55)
Kildalkey - Stephen Masterson; Sean Kirke, Daire Lahart, Cathal O'Sullivan; Kevin Murray, Scott Shelly, Ben Rickard; Ross Flynn (0-7 fs), Matt Rickard; Brian Conneely (0-1), Enda Keogh, Kevin McKeown; Aaron Byas (1-0), Brendan McKeon, Eoin Kelly. Subs - Cathal Reynolds for Kelly (41), Michael Potterton for Murray (41), Cathal Egan for B McKeon (48)
Referee - Marcus Quinn (Clann na nGael)
