O'Mahonys 1-11
St Patrick's 0-13

Cometh the hour James O'Reilly's point proved decisive as Navan O'Mahonys saw off a dogged St Patrick's in this final round tie at Donore on Sunday evening but missed out on the knockout stages.

It was the third of three points scored by the centre-half-back, known as 'Bangers', making him O'Mahonys' top scorer from play.

Kevin Reilly's men saw out nearly four minutes of added time to gain the win but lost out on a quarter-final place on the head-to-head rule. Davy Cahill's charges can take heart from this display ahead of the relegation play-off knowing that if they can replicate this performance survival at senior level is not beyond them.

Navan O'Mahonys are not the force they were half a decade ago, but digging out a result in a tight game is to be commended. Niall Mooney's 59th minute point tied the teams, 1-10 to 0-13.

St Pat's were set up very well (and narrowly) defensively with as many as 12 men behind the ball at times as they bid to claim their first points of the campaign. They led briefly in the opening quarter, but were chasing the game after Duggie Dillon's goal.

The Stamullen-Julianstown side passed up on 1-2 within 10 minutes of resumption. Shane Landy and Niall Mooney were wide from frees. Shortly after the restart, Donal Landy's goal attempt at the clubhouse end was low and narrowly wide.

By the 37th minute, O'Mahonys led by two points - 1-7 to 0-8, - after Ruairi O Coilean landed one of his four points.

Four minutes later when wing-back David McQuillan sent over his second score from play, it was level-pegging again, 1-7 to 0-10. Two O Coileain frees left O'Mahonys two clear at the three quarter stage.

The sides were level again in the 53rd minute when Donal Landy's punched point, left it 1-9 to 0-12. O'Mahonys regained the lead shortly after when alertness from sub Rory Maguire allowed Oisin O'Brien point from play.

O'Mahonys were unable to put some distance between themselves and St Pat's. Then came Mooney's effort from out on the left that gave the team in white and green hope of their first point of the campaign.

It was followed by James O'Reilly's third score that afforded O'Mahonys a lead they would defend to the finish.

Within seconds of the off, O Coileain pointed O'Mahonys in front. It wasn't the cue for a scoring spree. Instead they posted nine wides over the hour (seven in the first-half).  In contrast St Pat's had just four.

In showing the necessary composure they were good value for their win. With a bit more cool in front of goal, St Patrick's might have forced a shock here. However, they can take positives from this showing. 

Scorers: O'Mahonys - Ruairi O Coileain 0-4 (2fs); Duggie Dillon 1-0,  James O'Reilly 0-3, Oisin O'Brien 0-2 (1f), Gary O'Brien, Cathal Smyth 0-1 each.

St Patrick's - Niall Mooney 0-4 (3fs), Shane Landy 0-3 (2fs), Donal Landy, David McQuillan 0-2 each, Martin McKenna, Padraig Nulty 0-1 each.

O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Mikey O'Reilly, Darragh Maguire, Gary O'Brien; Niall McKeigue,James O'Reilly, James O'Malley; Niall McGrane, Conor Finnegan; Cathal Smyth, Cormac McGuinness, Patrick Leahy; Ruairi O Coileian, Duggie Dillon, Oisin O'Brien. Subs - Rory Maguire for Leahy (35), Brian Dillon for Smyth (52), Aodhan Mallon for D Dillon (60 + 2).

St Patrick's - Ciaran Sullivan; Adam Byrne, Dermot Quinn, David Stafford; David McQuillian, Darren Hagan, Martin McKeown;John Curtis, Kieran Lynch; Padraig Nulty, Niall Mooney, Niall Whearty; Shane Landy, Donal Landy, Neil O'Flaherty. Subs - Johnny Woods for McQuillan (bs 49-52), Woods for McKenna (57), Phillip O'Brien for Nulty (60 + 4).

Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha)

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