Navan O'Mahonys 2-10
Nobber 1-7

Kevin Reilly bagged a brace of goals as 14-man Navan O'Mahonys saw off promoted Nobber in this Meath Farm Machinery SFC Group B opener at Castletown on Sunday.

Reilly's second goal, just before end, stifled Nobber hopes of causing an upset in their first game back in the senior ranks in nearly two decades.

O'Mahonys in the driving seat before team captain Barry Regan was redcarded following an off the ball incident in the 37th minute.

At that point the town side led by 1-7 to 0-5 and tagged on the next score through the impressive Darragh Smyth.

With Kevin Reilly dropping deep to plug the gap in midfield left in Regan's departure, O'Mahonys maintained a comfortable distance from Nobber.

Then Nobber staged a late rally. Brendan Heffernan's point - only Nobber second such score from play - was followed by a Brian Farrell goal in the 57th minute.

The gap was down to two points and the prospect of a shock was in store.

Last year's MFC winning captain Alan Forde took his point when placed by Gary O'Brien as O'Mahonys reasserted themselves.

Nobber's Padraig Weldon made a fine block to prevent Stephen Bray from goaling with hour almost up.

In the third minute of stoppage time Bray set up Reilly for his second goal and shut the door on Nobber's spirited return to the top flight.

Bray pointed O'Mahonys in front in the first minute. Davy Cahill men's responded to lead on two occasions in the opening quarter.

Points from Niall McKeigue and Darragh Smyth restored O'Mahonys lead and they remained in front until the end.

Reilly opening goal arrived in the 20th minute and took a deflection of an unfortunate Nobber defender. Davy Nelson's men went on to lead by 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

O'Mahonys - M. Brennan; S. O'Toole, A. Rogers, I. Matthews; S. MacGabhann, C. McGuinness, G. O'Brien; B. Regan, M. Ward; D. Maguire (0-1), N. McKeigue (0-1), D. Smyth (0-4); S. Gillespie, K. Reilly (2-1), S. Bray (0-2). Subs - A. Forde (0-1) for Gillespie (44), P. Smyth for Maguire (53).

Nobber - C. O'Reilly; P. Weldon, B. O'Reilly, A. O'Brien; P. McEntee, C. Clarke, B. Meade; A. Farrell, G. Farrelly (0-1); N. Farrell (0-1, f), B. Farrell (1-4, 0-4 fs), B. Heffernan (0-1); G. Campbell, J. Owens, D. Lambe. Sub - R. Shields for Meade (27).

Referee - J. Farrelly (Syddan). Tweet

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