Navan O’Mahony’s 0-19 Rathmolyon 3-11 (aet)

After 80 minutes of hurling, only the bare minimum separated Navan O’Mahony’s and Rathmolyon in the Division 5 decider in St Loman’s Park on Saturday evening. The game was in the balance throughout, with neither side pulling away at any stage and the sides level on eleven different occasions. PHOTOS

Against the wind in the first half, John Foley opened the scoring for Navan O’Mahony’s with a well-taken point from a free. Following an accurate pass from Damian Burke, Shane O’Brien edged his side ahead with a point from play. The remainder of the first half followed a similar pattern, with the sides exchanging points. Approaching the thirty minute mark, Navan O’Mahony’s were two points to the advantage, with scores coming from Foley, O’Brien, Pat Nolan and substitute Sean Smyth. 

A point on the cusp of half time from Rathmolyon left only the narrowest of margins between the sides at the interval, six points to five, with Navan O’Mahony’s rueing some missed opportunities in the first half.

Nolan was quick off the mark in the second half, splitting the posts in the opening seconds. A minute later, Barry McEvoy stretched his sides lead to three points, putting some distance between the sides for the first time. This lead was wiped out two minutes later by a Rathmolyon goal, leaving the sides level once again.

It was a case of déjà vu for the next ten minutes, with three points from Navan O’Mahony’s putting them in the lead by that margin again, with Nolan and Brian Dunne scoring from play while O’Brien converted another free. A goal from play from Rathmolyon nullified this lead and left the sides level for the sixth time in 45 minutes. 

Once again, the Brews Hill side settled themselves and pushed on to gain the lead again through points from O’Brien and midfielder Jack McConnell. Three points in a row from Rathmolyonn left them in the driving seat with seven minutes left on the clock. Indeed it looked like the day would be Rathmolyons until Dunne stepped up when his side needed a score and duly obliged, forcing the game to extra time.

Full Time Navan O’Mahony’s 0-14 Rathmolyon 2-08

The first period of extra time was a low-scoring affair, with no flags raised during the first five minutes. Pat Nolan’s side edged their noses in front once again with a McConnell point but by half time of extra time, Rathmolyon had reversed the position, leading by a point. 

O’Brien equalised in the opening minute of the second period before Rathmolyon responded with a score of their own.  Navan O’Mahony’s were awarded with a penalty with four minutes to go with the game level. O’Brien’s shot was high and over the bar, leaving O’Mahony’s with a slight advantage.

A point from Smyth doubled the lead with three minutes on the clock when a third Rathmolyon goal put the Village in the lead for the final time. In spite of a strong effort, Navan O’Mahony’s couldn’t break through the Rathmolyon defence to level for a twelfth time and when referee Gus Martin blew the full time whistle, it was Rathmolyon’s day. 

Navan O’Mahony’s: Max Lafford, Thomas Cully, Declan Tolster, Gary Power, Peter McLoughlin, Ciaran McGuinness, Diarmuid Collins, Jack McConnell (0-02), Donal Rice, Damian Burke, John Foley (0-02), Brian Dunne (0-02), Shane O’Brien (0-07), Pat Nolan (0-03), Barry McEvoy (0-01)

Subs: Sean Smyth (0-02) for Foley, Ben McEntagart for Collins, Gavin Fox for Burke, Marcus McDonagh for Dunne 

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