Navan O'Mahonys 5-12 Dee Rangers 3-05
A hat-trick from Ailbhe Leahy may have been the highlight, but this was a great overall team performance from Navan O’Mahony’s in this opening round of the intermediate football championship.
As the starting whistle was blown, the heavens opened over Paddy O’Brien Park leaving supporters scarpering towards cars and for umbrellas. It was a tight opening quarter with points from Aoibheann Leahy, Órlaith Mallon and Olivia Callan. Dee Rangers held the lead at the first water break with a goal and two points to three points for Navan O’Mahony’s.
The North Meath outfit resumed well after the water break with a point and a goal from play and putting them six points clear of the hosts. O’Mahony’s didn’t let this get to them and were calm and collected at all times. Within five minutes, the deficit was down to two after a point from play from Callan and Mallon found the net. The sides exchanged points again before corner back Sophia Fitzherbert kicked a high looping ball into the square, beating the Dee Rangers netminder. Navan O’Mahony’s led by a point, 2-05 to 2-04 at the break.
The second half performance was exceptional from the Brews Hill side and from goalie to cornber forward, they showed great determination to win their own battles. Within seconds of the resumption, Ailbhe Leahy raised her first green flag of the night. Mallon followed with two excellent points from play.
Dee Rangers, not going down without a fight, began mounting a comeback but couldn’t penetrate the Navan O’Mahony’s defence, with two quick attacks cleared by Kate Falahee and Lily Dwyer. Fitzherbert and Callan extended the lead with points from play and it was twelve minutes before Dee Rangers added to their tally, with seven points between the sides at the second half water break.
Just as in the third quarter, the fourth quarter opened with a goal from Ailbhe Leahy to leave ten between the sides. Goalkeeper Ciara Blake pulled off a great save to ensure that the visitors were kept at bay. Aoibheann Leahy kicked a well taken point from 40 yards, ensuring that the scoreboard kept ticking over.
Dee Rangers did manage to break through eventually to find the net in the twenty seventh minute of the half, but this was neutralised two minutes later when Aoibheann Leahy found her sister Ailbhe who made no mistake in burying her third goal of the night. Two points from Mallon rounded off a great team performance and Navan O’Mahony’s can be delighted with this great start to the league campaign.
Navan O’Mahony’s: Ciara Blake, Aoibhín McKenny, Kate Falahee, Sophie Ftizherbert, Deirdre Forde, Sarah Powderly, Lily Dwyer, Tara Fay, Eimear Fay, Alison O’Toole, Aoibheann Leahy, Rebecca Reilly, Órlaith Mallon, Ailbhe Leahy, Olivia Callan
Subs: Eve Callan for O’Toole, Michelle Beggy for Forde
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