Dunboyne were the superior team but relegation threatened O'Mahonys gave a gutsy account of themselves at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday afternoon. 

Dunboyne .........  2-17
O'Mahonys ........ 0-14

In their first outing of the campaign Dunboyne took some time to fend off their opponents. The team in black and amber needed two second-half goals to secure the points. 

O'Mahonys efforts were rewarded with a 0-10 to 0-7 interval advantage as they put in a much improved showing from the heavy opening round loss to Na Fianna. 

A magnificent Duggie Dillon point left James Burke's men 0-11 to 0-10 ahead by the 40th minute. 

Then the game turned. Despite three fine saves from goalkeeper Shane Flannery in quick succession, Dunboyne persistence paid off with Niall Smyth netting in the 43rd minute to make it 1-10 to 0-11. 

Dunboyne looked good to pull clear quickly, but just a goal separated the teams when Daragh Gilmartin left Dunboyne 1-12 to 0-12 in the 52nd minute.

Getting scores was proving easier for Dunboyne. They outscored the Navan-side by 1-5 to 0-2 in the time remaining with Gilmartin getting the second goal, in stoppage time.  

With whatever assistance the blustery breeze, blowing into the town end, offered O'Mahonys they put it up to Dunboyne from the off. 

Despite falling behind twice in the early stages they soon settled to the challenge. John Foley's accuracy from frees coupled with the scoring exploits of county man Jack Walsh, O'Mahonys took charge and went three clear by the interval. 

Slicker Dunboyne took the lead gained from Smyth's goal to the finish.

Dunboyne led twice in the early stages thank to points from Michael Dunne and Daragh Gilmartin (free). In between Jack Walsh got O'Mahonys on the scoresheet. 

The first of John Foley's six first-half pointed frees tied the match for the second time. 

The sides were level five times in the first third of the hour. O'Mahonys finished the half strongly outscoring Dunboyne by 0-5 to 0-2 in this phase with long range efforts from Duggie Dillon and Jack Walsh contributing. 

While Dunboyne harbour hopes of advancing, O'Mahonys have a relegation battle to face but can draw some encouragement from this showing. 

Scorers: Dunboyne - Daragh Gilmartin 1-6 (0-3fs); Niall Smyth 1-0; Michael Dunne 0-3; Neil Hackett (1f);Sean McGrath, Ciaran McKay 0-2 each; Killian Smith, Michael O'Grady 0-1 each.   

O'Mahonys - Jack Walsh 0-7 (3fs); John Foley 0-6 (fs), Duggie Dillon 0-1. 

Dunboyne - Sean Moran; Eoghan Ryan, Stephen Moran, Ger Murphy; Peter Doherty, Mick Carton, Andy McWeeney; Killian Smith, Michael O'Grady; Sean McGrath, Niall Smyth, Neil Hackett; Conor Gilmartin, Michael Dunne, Daragh Gilmartin. Subs - 

O'Mahonys - Shane Flannery; Conor Cullen, Richie Hogan, Mike O’Reilly; Dermot McKenna, Kevin O'Rourke, Patrick Leahy; Sean Smyth, Duggie Dillon; Cormac Keyes, John Foley, Jack Walsh; David Quirke, Sam Formosa, Paddy Dillon. Subs - Colin O'Rourke for Hogan (33),  

Referee - Gerry O'Brien (Wolfe Tones)

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