Goals prove crucial for O'Mahonys

Colin O'Brien

Navan O’Mahony’s 4-11

Oldcastle 0-13

With both teams already guaranteed a place in the knockout stages going into this game, it was a home quarter final that was at stake in this SFC clash.

A high scoring encounter, Navan O’Mahonys came out on top courtesy of goals from Megan Collins, Ailbhe Leahy and Lauren Woods.

Six minutes in, it was the home side that had got off to the better start, leading three points to no score. Nine minutes passed without score from Navan O’Mahonys and it came in the form of a goal from Leahy, leaving the sides level.

Oldcastle responded well and kicked four points in as many minutes in response and leaving Navan O’Mahonys chasing.

A 15th minute free from Orlaith Mallon left it a three point game before Collins drew it level in the nineteenth minute with a well-taken goal.

All within sixty seconds, Oldcastle had edged in front again with a point from play and Navan O’Mahonys took the lead for the first time.

Again it was Collins who had the umpire reaching for the green flag. With ten minutes to go, Navan O’Mahonys held a two-point lead but this was cancelled out by the 28th minute with two points from play from the hosts.

Three injury time points from Mallon gave Navan O’Mahonys the push on they needed to take the lead going into the interval, all from play, Navan O’Mahonys 3-4 Oldcastle 0-10.

With the lead in their hands, Navan O’Mahonys knew they would have to work hard to hold onto it to the final whistle.

Mallon converted a free in the third minute to extend the lead to four but after ten minutes, it was once again reduced to two. This was as a result of a fifth minute free and a point in the ninth minute from play for Oldcastle.

The gap was increased to four midway through the half when Collins split the posts from play and Mallon converted another free. A good point from play from Oldcastle in the sixteenth minute made it a single-score game again but Navan O’Mahonys were able to push on while keeping Oldcastle scoreless for the remainder of the game.

A point from Woods and a free from Collins left five points between the sides with ten minutes to go and any hope of an Oldcastle recovery was dashed when Woods rattled the net to leave distance between the sides for the first time.

Not letting the foot off the pedal, Mallon and Collins each added to their earlier tallies late in the game to see out the game.

Navan O’Mahonys - Ciara Blake, Aoibhin McKenny, Robyn Murray, Sophia Fitzherbert, Sarah Maguire, Hannah Heskin, Lily Dwyer, Eimear Fay, Rebecca Reilly, Tara Fay, Ailbhe Leahy (1-0), Lauren Woods (1-1), Orlaith Mallon (0-7), Megan Collins (2-3), Neasa McDermott.