The O'Mahonys players earned their place in the Minor Div 1 final.

O'Mahonys prove too strong for the Royals

Colin O'Brien

A large crowd gathered in Paddy O’Brien Park to see Navan O’Mahonys earn their place in the Minor Div 1 final with a 3-12 to 2-6 win over Royal Gaels in the Meath LGFA Minor Div 1 on Sunday.

Although a crisp evening, it was good conditions for football.

A good start for Paul Mallon’s ladies saw them score a goal and three points in the opening eight minutes. Lauren Woods found the Royal Gaels net and also bagged one of the points, with Amber Cosgrove and Olivia Callan getting the other two. Royal Gaels responded with two points of their own from play.

Midway through the second half, these scores were nullified with two points for Navan O’Mahony’s with points from Cosgrove and Cara Ratty.

Approaching the twentieth minute, within a sixty-second period, Royal Gaels brought themselves right back into the game with a goal and a point in quick succession.

Eight minutes passed without a score before this was replicated the far end of the pitch. A Woods point was followed within seconds by a goal from Cara Ratty, giving a strong lead to the hosts once again. A Royal Gaels point from play in the dying seconds closed out the scoring for the half and the scoreboard read - Navan O’Mahony’s 2-6 Royal Gaels 1-4 - at the break.

With only five points between the sides at the interval, it was all to play for in the second-half.

A blitz from substitute Orlaith Mallon in the opening eight minutes saw her extend the Navan O’Mahony’s lead with three points. Her run was interrupted by a Royal Gaels score, but she soon added a fourth midway through the half.

This was soon followed by a goal from Woods, further extending the lead of the Brews Hill side. A few minutes later, Royal Gaels clawed back some of this lead with a goal of their own.

At this stage, the deficit was too much for Royal Gaels to bridge, although to their credit they never gave up.

Two points for Navan O’Mahony’s, one from Callan and the other from substitute Neasa McDermott saw out the game and Trim await in the final

Navan O'Mahonys - Ciara Blake, Doireann Mellett, Sarah Maguire, Alannah Brady, Jorja Keogh, Robyn Murray, Lily Dwyer, Charlie Murray, Amber Cosgrove (0-2), Rebecca Reilly, Olivia Callan (0-2), Caoimhe Cullen, Lauren Woods (2-2), Cara Ratty (1-1), Muireann Nelson Orlaith Mallon (0-4) for Nelson, Neasa McDermott (0-1) for Cullen, Isobelle Thorpe for Ratty, Ella Nugent for Murray, Orlaith Devlin for Brady & Briannon Ball for Mallon