Na Fianna cruise to victory over O'Mahonys

Three years ago Navan O'Mahonys beat Na Fianna in an IHC final replay, but since then the tables have very firmly turned and this evening's 1-22 to 2-9 SHC Group B victory for Na Fianna proves how big of a gap there is between the sides now.

Last year Na Fianna beat O'Mahonys by 22 points in the SHC, so tonight's margin represents an improvement for the Navan men, but the reality of the situation is that they were never really at the races against a fluid Na Fianna side that saw the Slevins contribute 1-16 between them.

Barry Slevin opened the scoring in the first minute before John Foley replied with a leveller for O'Mahonys. That parity lasted 30 seconds and in the next four minutes Mark Slevin, Peter Slevin (two), Will Flynn and Shane Walsh added to Na Fianna's tally to give them a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the 10th minute.

Frees from Barry Slevin and Mark Slevin either side of traded points from the excellent Will Flynn and Foley (free) extended Na Fianna's lead to 0-9 to 0-2 by the water break.

Foley and Shane Walsh exchanged scores before Barry Slevin made it 0-11 to 0-3.

Jack Walsh clipped over O'Mahonys first score from play in the 26th minute, but in the last four minutes of the half Barry Slevin forced Shane Flannery into a great save from which Peter Slevin converted the rebound over the bar and Shane Walsh, Mark Slevin and Barry Slevin (free) added points to make it 0-15 to 0-4 at half-time.

The sides shared the first four points of the second period with Mark and Peter Slevin on target for Na Fianna before Foley replied with a free and a '65'.

Barry Slevin blasted a goal from a penalty after Mike O'Reilly fouled Flynn, but three minutes later O'Mahonys had that goal pulled back when the threatening David Quirke netted after Foley's 20-metre free was saved.

Despite taking their foot off the gas Mark Slevin added a point for Na Fianna, but it was O'Mahonys who showed heart to keep battling with Jack Walsh and the excellent Cormac Keyes pointing.

Sensing that O'Mahonys were enjoying a purple patch Na Fianna upped the tempo again and hit four of the next five points with two frees from Barry Slevin and points from Mark Slevin and Flynn, in response to a Foley score, completing Na Fianna's tally.

Sam Formosa added some gloss to the O'Mahonys tally with his late goal, but they were a long way second best.

SCORERS

Na Fianna – Barry Slevin 1-6 1-0 penalty, five frees; Mark Slevin 0-6 one free; Peter Slevin 0-4; Will Flynn 0-3; Shane Walsh 0-3.

Navan O'Mahonys – John Foley 0-6 four frees, one '65'; David Quirke 1-0; Sam Formosa 1-0; Jack Walsh 0-2; Cormac Keyes 0-1.

TEAMS

Na Fianna – Eoin Reilly; Daniel Devine, Daniel Gleeson, Stephen Slevin; Noel O'Sullivan, Diarmuid Bailey, Evan Mullally; Oisin McCloskey, Peter Slevin; Sean Coffey, Mark Slevin, Ethan Devine; Shane Walsh, Barry Slevin, Will Flynn. Subs – Cian Slattery, Rian Kelly, Luke Kelly.

Navan O'Mahonys – Shane Flannery; Ger Dillon, Richie Hogan, Mike O'Reilly; Dermot McKenna, Kevin O'Rourke, Patrick Leahy; David Dillon, Sean Smith; Cormac Keyes, John Foley, Jack Walsh; Paddy Dillon, Barry McEvoy, David Quirke. Subs – Dylan Regan for McKenna, Sam Formosa for McEvoy both half-time, McEvoy for Hogan 60 mins.

Referee – Bernard Heaney (Clann na nGael).