MFC Div 2 final: Shane stands out as O'Mahonys win
September 26, 2020
Navan O'Mahony's Shane McCarthy is outnumbered during the Meath MFC Division 2 final against Donaghmore Ashbourne in Skryne
Shane McCarthy was the most influential player on view as Navan O'Mahonys overcame Donaghmore-Ashbourne in an engrossing MFC Division 2 final at Skryne on Friday evening.
O'Mahonys ........... 0-17
Don-Ashbourne ...... 2-7
It was far from a one-man show as O'Mahonys' collectively overcame the concession of two goals and a number of mistakes to claim the Liam Tolan Cup in this competition for under-17 players.
Liam Tolan was a promising young Skryne player who died in a traffic accident 10 years ago having playing for Meath minors earlier in the day.
Damien Moran was at the helm for O'Mahonys and his selectors included former Meath senior Cormac McGuinness.
McCarthy contributed more than his nine-point haul dropping deep in the second-half to make some key fetches close to his own goal
The nominal full-forward posted the four final scores of the hour, the pick was one from play from the right wing that left it 0-15 to 2-7 with stoppage time beckoning.
He won an important contest for possession in his own half in added time with Donaghmore-Ashbourne's top scorer John Lancaster.
Lancaster's second goal, 10 minutes into the second-half, left Cathal Cullen's charges 2-6 to 0-9 ahead following a mix-up in the O'Mahonys' defence.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne appeared to have the upper hand at this stage but Lancaster's point with the water break beckoning proved to be his side's final flag.
The 'Moors' led by 2-7 to 0-10 at this interval on a calm night while the Navan-side were passing up a number of scoring chances.
O'Mahonys held the Ashbourne side scoreless in the final quarter while adding seven themselves. Before the eventual winners gained parity, McCarthy fielded in defence Darragh Gleeson's sideline kick.
Deep into added time the game's top scorer pointed a close range free to close the door on Donaghmore-Ashbourne hopes
Jack McConnell opened the scoring with the first of his four-point haul. Shane Maguire also pointed as O'Mahonys moved 0-3 to 0-0 clear after 11 minutes.
Sean Tyrell and Paul Wilson played supporting roles in Lancaster's first goal that left the team in white and green, 1-1 to 0-3, ahead at the water break.
A physically strong and mobile Donaghmore-Ashbourne outscored a somewhat rattled O'Mahonys by 0-4 to 0-1 in the second quarter to reach half-time leading by 1-5 to 0-4.
O'Mahonys gained parity within seven minutes of the restart with McConnell starting the four-point sequence. Lancaster's second goal appeared to tilt the pendulum Donaghmore-Ashbourne's way. There was to be one more turn in the tide.
Scorers: O'Mahonys - Shane McCarthy 0-9 (6fs); Jack McConnell 0-4; Jack Boyle, Louis Collins, Shane Maguire, Jack Quinn 0-1 each.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Josh Lancaster 2-1; Darragh Gleeson 0-3 (fs); Paul Wilson 0-2; Adam Murray 0-1.
Navan O'Mahonys - Brian Yourell; Eoin Hughes Magennis, Peter McEntaggart, Daragh Murphy; Sean Williamson, Daniel McEvoy, Jack Boyle; Louis Collins, Shane Maguire; Ciaran Vaughan, Hugo Fitzherbert, Eoghan Nugent; Bradlee Connor, Shane McCarthy, Jack McConnell. Subs - Cian Murtagh for Boyle, Jack Quinn.
Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Alex Ward; Ben Mather, Cianan Finn, Scott Ward; Dominion Agabha, James O'Sullivan, Adam Murray; Darragh Gleeson (C); Josh Lancaster, Paul Wilson, Sean Tyrrell; Sammy Corcoran, Cian Deegan, Matthew Doran. Subs - Tomas Cooney for O'Sullivan, Kevin O'Dwyer for Doran, Daniel Martin for Cooney.
Referee - Henri Clifford (Roscommon)
