Navan O'Mahonys ............. 1-12
Donaghmore-Ashbourne ...... 1-8

Economy on the scoring front was central to Navan O'Mahonys win over Donaghmore-Ashbourne in this hoganstand.com SFC Group B second round fixture at Walterstown on Sunday afternoon.

The champions were off target seven times but Donaghmore-Ashbourne's wide count was 16 before referee Padraic Coyle drew proceedings to a close following a strong unfussy performance by the Seneschalstown official.

Three points from as many different players within four minutes of the restart gave Davy Nelson's side the platform to secure their second win of the campaign after the scores were tied at 1-3 each at the break.

The strong easterly crosswind caused problems for both sides but O'Mahonys mastered matters better and finished six scorers to Donaghmore-Ashbourne's four. However top scorer Andrew Tormey with 1-5 was the only player to register more than once for the east county side.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne's cause wasn't helped by the dismissal of Tormey in the 57th minute on receipt of a second yellow card with four points between the sides. O'Mahonys' full-back Niall McKeigue was also yellow carded at this point.

Aidan Hughes threw Paul Clarke's men a lifeline with a late point that cut the gap to a goal. However, in the last meaningful action of the game Alan Forde posted a well-judged score from the right wing at the clubhouse end to secure O'Mahonys' win.

O'Mahonys could have had two goals in the opening five minutes, but had to settle for one. Ruairi O Coileain fired low and wide when placed by Stephen Bray three minutes in. Moments later Jake Regan fisted to the net a Stephen Bray's point attempt that dropped short finishing a move begun by James O'Reilly.

By the end of the opening quarter the scores were tied coutesy of a trio of Andrew Tormey points. A brilliant Stephen Bray effort had O'Mahonys back in front in the 16th minute.

Paul Clarke's men responded with a Tormey goal when the corner-forward got on the end of a Aidan Hughes delivery before firing past Marcas Brennan at the clubhouse end. That left it 1-3 to 1-1 to Donaghmore-Ashbourne after 16 minutes.

Donaghmore-Ashbourne remained scoreless for the rest of a keenly contested opening half which ended with the board reading 1-3 each. Significantly the wide count was 8-4 against the men in green.

O'Mahonys resumed on the front foot with a James O'Reilly delivery brilliantly fielded by David Bray who placed Ruairi O Coileain for a point that gave the champions a lead they maintained to the end.

A well-flighted long range Paul Gilligan free ended Donaghmore-Ashbourne's 18-minute scoring blank five minutes into the second-half. Shortly after Sean Curran was narrowly wide close to the O'Mahonys' goal having begun the move in defence with an excellent block on Shane Crosby's shot.

A Tormey effort from play - with assistance from Eric Callaghan - cut the gap to just two points, 1-8 to 1-6, after 43 minutes. The champions response was three scores on the spin that proved decisive.

O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Darragh Smyth, Kevin Reilly, Darragh Maguire; James O'Reilly, Shane Crosby, Brian Dillon; Cormac McGuinness, Kevin Reilly (0-2); Ruairi O Coileain (0-4, 2fs), Stephen Bray (0-1), Rory Maguire; Jake Regan (1-2, 0-2 fs), David Bray (0-2), Alan Forde (0-1). Subs - Henry Finnegan for Maguire (52).

Donaghamore-Ashbourne - Andy Colgan; JP Casserly, Conor Carton, Thomas McGovern; Ciaran Ellis, Sean Curran, Paul Gilligan (0-1f); Conor Carey, Bryan Menton; Eric Callaghan, Aidan Hughes (0-1), Sean Byrne; Andrew Tormey (1-5, 0-2fs), Ciaran Beirne, Michael Deegan (0-1). Subs - Shane Melia for Callaghan (52), Matthew Devine for Byrne.

Referee - Padraic Coyle (Seneschalstown).

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