O'Mahonys 1-13
Wolfe Tones 0-10

Navan O'Mahonys hit half of their winning total in the final quarter to see off Wolfe Tones in the hoganstand.com SFC semi-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday afternoon.

Davy Nelson's men outscored Wolfe Tones by 1-8 to 0-1 in the final third of a contest that ebbed both ways until the Navan-side finished strong to secure a final meeting with Donaghmore-Ashbourne.

Prior to O'Mahonys' late burst, Wolfe Tones looked set for a first final appearance since losing to the Brews HIll outfit in the 2012. Between the 19th and 40th minutes, Gordon Ward's charges outscored O'Mahonys by 0-9 to 0-1 during their most dominant spell in the ascendency. It wasn't until the 49th minute that O'Mahonys erased a four-point that the Tones enjoyed nine minutes earlier

Whatever advantage the crosswind offered, it seemed to favour Navan O'Mahonys, who were playing towards their own clubhouse in the first-half.

Davy Nelson's men registered three points and as many wides in the opening 10 minutes. With less possession Wolfe Tones were off target just once, a chance that could have been a goal.

In the sixth minute a speculative Eoghan Harrington effort unhinged the O'Mahonys' rearguard and but for the timely intervention of 'keeper Marcas Brennan, Fiachra Ward might have goaled.

David Bray accounted for two of O'Mahonys' early quartet of points, the second the end of a sweeping move. Cormac McGuinness and Ruairi O Coileain also got off the mark for the Brews Hill club in the opening quarter.

It took Wolfe Tones nearly 19 minutes to get off the mark. Cian Ward registered from a free having hit the post with a similar attempt from close range. They bossed the second quarter, reeling off five points on the spin to hit the front in the 28th minute when Niall O'Reilly posted his second score.

Two Cian Ward frees and one each from Alan Callaghan and Niall McLoughlin accounted for the remainder of Wolfe Tones' first-half total. O'Mahonys registered six first-half wides, twice as many as the 'Tones. Gordon Ward's men might have had two goals in this phase of the game.

Callaghan might have netted when sending over to regain the lead for Wolfe Tones in the third minute of first-half stoppage time. Seconds later sub 'keeper David Quirke - who had just replaced the injured Marcas Brennan - saved from Fiachra Ward.

A last gasp Shane Gillespie effort to tie the scores before the break was collected by David Nolan whose side went on to lead by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

All bar one of O'Mahonys' first-half scores were shoe-horned into the first quarter while they posted six wides in the opening 17 minuates

Wolfe Tones resumed where they left off. While they were added four points without reply their tally within 10 minutes of the resumption, O'Mahonys lost interval replacment Stephen MacGabhann to a black card.

Having fallen four points off the pace by the 42nd minute, O'Mahonys got a second wind that yielded five points in seven minutes to lead by 0-10 to 0-9 early in the final quarter. Davy Nelson's men maintained their momentum to advance to their first final since 2012 where they will face Donaghmore-Ashbourne.

The last action of the game, a foul on Stephen Corrigan, led to a penalty that was saved by O'Mahonys' replacement 'keeper David Quirke from Wolfe Tones' sub Tomas O'Reilly.

O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Brian Dillon (0-1), Niall McKeigue (C), Darragh Smyth (0-1 ; James O'Reilly, Shane Crosby, Gary O'Brien; Cormac McGuinness (0-2) Damien Moran; Ruairi O Coileain (0-1), Stephen Bray (1-2), Alan Forde;Shane Gillespie, David Bray (0-3 1f), Jake Regan (0-3, 1f). Subs - David Quirke for Brennan (29), Stephen MacGabhann for Gillespie (ht), Darragh Maguire for MacGabhann (39 black card), Sean Keating for Regan (59), Stephen O'Toole for Dillon (60), Henry Finnegan for McGuinness (60).

Wolfe Tones - David Nolan; Shane Glynn, Stephen Sheppard, David Coleman; Eanna Harrington, Eoghan Harrington, Mark Coleman; Stephen Corrigan, Alan Callaghan (0-1); Niall O'Reilly (0-2), Niall McLoughlin (0-1), Paul Byrne; Ciaran McLoughlin (0-1), Fiachra Ward, Cian Ward (C) (0-4 2 fs) 1 45. Subs - Tomas O'Reilly (0-1 f) for Byrne (33), Alan Fox for C McLoughlin (blood sub 33), C McLoughlin for Fox (39), Alan Fox for C Ward (54), Killian O'Brien for F Ward (57).

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)

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