Navan O'Mahonys dug out a narrow A FL Division 1 home win over holders Wolfe Tones at Paddy O'Brien Park on Saturday night.

O'Mahonys 0-14 Wolfe Tones 0-11

Navan O'Mahonys led from first score to finish as they withstood a Wolfe Tones rally that almost secured a draw for Tony Kearney's men who were denied a draw with a stoppage save by Marcas Brennan.

The experienced 'keeper was equal to Saran O Fionnagain's close range ground shot. Had it gone in the scores would have been tied for the first time in the game.

It was the first home win of the campaign and second in all for Navan O'Mahonys. Wolfe Tones lost one of their opening four league fixtures.

Both sides posted some top-drawer scores with good approach play being suitably rewarded. Playing towards the railway end of the ground, Kevin Reilly's men were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead with 27 minutes gone.

The hosts seventh score of the half was a notable one from Shane Gillespie. Stephen Bray posted the opener with assistance from Dylan Regan and Gillespie.

The Tones trebled their tally in the run-in to the interval with a left-footed Caolan Ward free followed by a point from his eldest brother Cian's sideline in the last action of the half.

O'Mahonys led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break. Within four minutes of resumption, the visitors added points from Cian Ward (free) and Niall O'Reilly that cut the gap to just two points. The latter was the first of five second-half scores from play by the Wolfe Tones number 12.

The hosts hit back with four scores on the spin to lead 0-11 to 0-5 heading into the final quarter. Two Dylan Regan efforts from play were highlights in this sequence as was Paul Whelehan's pointed 45.

Wolfe Tones got to within two points of O'Mahonys twice in the latter stages helped by two Cian Ward frees. The gap was down to the minimum for the first time since the eighth minute when O'Reilly completed his tally in the 57th minute.

O'Mahonys closed in on their first home win of the campaign (second in all) with efforts from Gillespie (free) and Regan.

Navan O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Andy Leech, Niall McKeigue, Darragh Smyth; Evan Power, Gary O'Brien (0-1), Ross Geraghty; Conor Finnegan, Cormac McGuinness; Darragh Maguire, Paul Whelehan (0-2, 1f), Dylan Regan (0-5, 1f); Shane Gillespie (0-3, 1f), David Bray (0-1), Stephen Bray (0-2). Subs - Cathal Smyth for D Bray (ht), Patrick Leahy for 'Finnegan (53).

Wolfe Tones - David Nolan; Alan Lynam, Eoghan Harrington, Conor Sheppard; Niall McLoughlin, Eanna O'Kelly-Lynch, Eanna Harrington; Sean Corrigan, Mark Coleman; Caolan Ward (0-2 fs), Cian Ward (0-4, 3fs, 1 sl), Niall O'Reilly (0-5), Thomas Blayney, Saran O Fionnagain, Fiachra Ward. Subs - Robert White for Lynam (ht), Cillian O'Brien for Blayney (50). .

Referee - Brendan O'Brien (St Mary's)

Wolfe Tones Report

O'Mahonys 0-14 Bhulf Tón 0-11

Bhí Ó Mathúna sé chúilíní chun tosaigh tar éis an tríú ceathrú ach tháinig Bhulf Tón ar ais go láidír go mórmhór trí ceithre chúilíní iontacha ó Niall O Reilly ach bhí Ó Mathúna ró láidir sa deireadh.

Played in good conditions, O Mahonys had the better of the first half exchanges and led by 0-7 to 0-3 at half time. Indeed they were 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after 28 minutes but a closing brace of points from the Tones, the first a Caolán Ward free (added to his earlier score) and a point from a side line from Cian Ward on the stroke of halftime gave Tones a lift they needed.

Tones had the opening two points of the second half, a Cian Ward free and a fine effort from play from Saran O Fionnagain to narrow the gap to two points, 0-7 to 0-5 within 3 minutes of the restart. O Mahonys however responded well and added four points to open what seemed a match winning six point lead by the end of the third quarter. Tones then hit a purple patch and hit six (four  excellent points from Niall O'Reilly added to two Cian Ward frees) to a solitary reply from the home side to set up a grandstand finish as just a point separated the teams with just 3 minutes left. However O Mahonys defence stood strong and they added two further points to lead by two at the end of normal time. Tones however managed one last attack to create a goal chance right at the death but Saran O Fionnagain's goal attempt was well saved.  

Bhulf Tón: David Nolan, Alan Lynam, Eoghan Harrington, Conor Sheppard, Niall Mc Loughlin, Éanna O Kelly Lynch, Éanna Harrington, Stephen Corrigan, Mark Coleman, Caolán Ward (0  02, 2F), Cian Ward (0 04, 3F), Niall O Reilly (0 04), Thomas Blaney, Saran O Fionnagain (0 01), Fiachra Ward. Subs: Robert White for Alan Lynam (HT), Cillian O Brien for Thomas Blaney(50)

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