Stunning opening half sets O'Mahonys apart

O’Mahonys ..........................3-0-17 (26)

St Patrick’s ..........................2-3-5 (17)

Beaten finalists in 2024 and relegation finalists 12 months ago Navan O’Mahonys bouncebackability was in full flow as they swept aside the challenge of a fancied St Patrick’s in this IFC semi-final at Dunsany on Saturday,writes Sean Wall.

It was a devastating display from Darren Clarke’s side as they blew their opponents out of the water in the opening 20 minutes and put themselves in the box seat to replace their neighbours Simonstown in the senior ranks in 2027.

Poor St Patrick’s didn’t know what hit them as O’Mahonys tore into them from the opening whistle to build up a 2-4 to 0-0 lead by the 11th minute and 3-9 to 0-5 after 26 minutes, before finishing the half with a very healthy 3-11 to 0-7 advantage.

The winner’s scoring rate dropped considerably in the second half as the Stamullen men fought gamely to put a more respectable look on the scoreboard but the issue was never in doubt with O’Mahonys full value for their nine point victory.

When the sides’ clashed in the opening round it was St Patrick’s who came out on top by four points and if rules similar to the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board applied to Gaelic football then O’Mahonys would surely be called before the stewards to explain their improvement in form!

Dominating around the middle third, O’Mahonys cut through their flat-footed opponents with ease during the opening passages with James O’Reilly opening their account with a point and Ronan Clarke adding a second before wing back Sean Betson pounced for their opening goal when reacting quickest after an Aodhan Mallon effort had rebounded off a post on five minutes.

Fast direct play led to another point from Cormac Nugent and Mallon then increased their tally before Duggie Dillon soloed through without anyone laying a glove on him and finished with aplomb to the St Patrick’s net. Mallon added another point and the half was 15 minutes old before David Rothwell opened the east Meath side’s account.

O’Mahonys added two further points before St Patrick’s flagging hopes received a boost with two two-pointers in the space of three minutes from wing back Senan McKeon, one of which came courtesy of a free. That left it 2-8 to 0-5 but O’Mahonys response was emphatic with Paddy Dillon pointing and Cormac Nugent firing home a third goal on 26 minutes.

Conor Black struck for St Patrick’s third two-pointer before O’Mahonys finished the half with points from Nugent and Evan Coffey.

O’Mahonys also restarted on the front foot with Duggie Dillon and Nugent adding further points. With the St Patrick’s forwards well bottled up it was left to defenders to make their mark on the scoreboard for Colm Nally’s side and corner back Liam Brennan produced a great finish to the net from a tight angle on 36 minutes. Another defender Shane Dowling added a point in that third quarter to leave it 1-8 to 3-14.

St Patrick’s talisman Jamie Murphy, who carried an injury into the game, was eventually forced off on 40 minutes with his replacement Shane Landy firing home a goal on 52 minutes and adding a point from a free late on.

Those scores were of the consolation variety however as O’Mahonys managed the game well in the final quarter with Nugent taking his tally to 1-5 and Evan Coffey and substitute Robbie Keelaghan adding points to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Navan O’Mahonys: Jamie O’Reilly; Darragh Murphy, Paddy Dillon (0-1), Conor Brady; James O’Reilly (0-1), Niall McGrane, Sean Betson (1-0); Niall Higgins (0-1), Aodhan Mallon (0-2); Ivo Fitzherbert, Jack Quinn, Duggie Dillon (1-2); Ronan Clarke (0-2), Evan Coffey (0-2), Cormac Nugent (1-5 one free). Subs : Robbie Keelaghan (0-1) for Quinn 44m, Christopher Dillon for Clarke 48m, Conor Finnegan for D Dillon, Shane McCarthy for Nugent, Eoghan Nugent for O’Reilly all 60m.

St Patrick’s: Evan McDonnell; Liam Brennan (1-0), David McQuillan, Alex Curran; Senan McKeon (0-5 one ’45', one two-pointer, one two-point free), Conor Black (0-2 one two-pointer), Shane Dowling (0-1); Sean Baxter, John Mannion; Sean Emmanuel, Ben Sullivan, David Rothwell (0-1); Neil O’Flaherty, Jamie Murphy, Donal Landy (0-1). Subs : Oisin Black for Rothwell, Luke Whearty for Sullivan both half-time, Shane Landy (1-1 one free) for Murphy 40m, Darren Hagan for O’Flaherty, Dan Cooney Kearns for O Black both 44m.

Referee :David Gough (Slane).