With their best display of the campaign Navan O'Mahonys outscored Dunshaughlin in the SFC relegation decider at Dunganny on Friday night.

O'Mahonys ............ 1-13
Dunshaughlin .......... 0-4

Having lost by nine points when the sides met in the grouip stage, Navan O'Mahonys were up for the challenge of retaining their place in the premier tier of club football.

This was a superb team effort by a focused and disciplined outfit, well set up by manager Davy Nelson and his experienced selectors.

One player stood out, making light of the fact that he is in his fifth decade. Niall McKeigue was intelligent in attack in the opening 30 minutes and prominent in defence thereafter.

Stephen Bray didn't get on the scoresheet but brought his experience to bear in creating openings for his team mates.

Goalkeeper Marcas Brennan - who played in the All-Ireland MFC final 19 years - marshaled his defence effectively and made a fine save from Luke Mitchell in the 43rd minute.

A goal at the stage would have left Dunshaughlin just five points in arrears. At the other end, David Jennings made a great stop to keep out McKeigue flick on Jake Regan's delivery.

Dunshaughlin's bid to retain the senior status they achieved on the back of their 1997 IFC win was seriously undermined by the dismissal of their captain Ben Duggan on the receipt of two yellow cards in quick succession in the opening quarter.

Overall, O'Mahonys were slightly more wasteful than Dunshaughlin, further evidence of their dominance in terms of possession and chances.

Both sides were without key players through suspension. Ruairi Kinsella was absent from the Dunshaughlin attack while O'Mahonys were without the services of the versatile Brian Dillon. 

The opening minutes were Dunshaughlin's brightest. Inside 35 seconds of the off midfielder Mathew Costello pointed them in front. It was to be the only time Martin Reilly's men led.

Two scores around the sixth minute had O'Mahonys in front. First, Jake Regan pointed a 50-metre free before contributing in the move that saw Rory Smith place Conor Finnegan for the lead score.

The scores were  tied for the second and final time in the ninth minute when Cian Gallogly pointed. Five unanswered O'Mahonys' points brought us to half-time when the Brews Hill side led by 0-7 to 0-2.

A Luke Mitchell free in the 33rd minute was Dunshaughlin's first score in 24 minutes. Seconds later O'Mahonys struck significantly when Regan flicked a point attempt to the net. A Duggie Dillon point quickly followed to leave it 1-8 to 0-3.

Dunshaughlin managed just one more score in the time remaining, Niall Murphy's 37th minute effort. It was countered with five more O'Mahonys' points spread over the remainder of the hour.

Brian O'Hanlon capped an energetic display with the final three scores of the game as O'Mahonys didn't let up.

Such was the interest in the fixture that the throw-in was delayed by 15 minutes due to traffic congestion en route to the ground.

Scorers: Navan O'Mahonys - Jake Regan 1-5 (0-5 fs); Brian O'Hanlon 0-3 (2fs); James O'Reilly, Darragh Maguire, Conor Finnegan, Duggie Dillon, Niall McKeigue (f), 0-1 each.

Dunshaughlin - Niall Murphy, Mathew Costello, Cian Gallogly, Luke Mitchell (f) 0-1 each.

Navan O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; Mikey O'Reilly, Conor Brady, Paddy Dillon; James O'Reilly, Niall McKeighe, Aodhan Mallon; Conor Finnegan, Rory Smith; Daragh Maguire, Stephen Bray, Sam Formosa; Jake Regan, Duggie Dillon, Brian O'Hanlon. Subs -  Evan Brady for P Dillon (23), Evan Coffey for Mallon (44), Ronan Clarke for D Dillon (56).

Dunshaughlin - David Jennings; Oisin Foley, Alastair Doyle, David Dunne; Fursey Blake, Niall Murphy, Tadhg O Dushlaine; Adam Kealy, Mathew Costello; John McDonagh, Matthew Moyles, Ben Duggan; Cian Gallogly, Ronan Geraghty, Luke Mitchell. Subs - Aaron Murphy for Geraghty (14), Ciaran McCarrick for McDonagh (ht), David Fildes for Moyles (35), Sean Gaughan for Dunne (40), Fergus Toolan for Gallogly (50).

Referee - David Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels)

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