Walterstown: 4-11 Navan O’Mahonys: 2-10

A stunning second-half display got Walterstown off to a winning start in Group D of the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship in Páirc Tailteann on Sunday. The Blacks outscored their neighbours Navan O’Mahony’s 3-6 to 0-3 in that second period to run out comfortable victors in the end.

Ahead of throw in the Blacks were boosted by the return of Conor Farrelly from the USA, while manager Andy McGuinness handed championship debuts to youngsters Fionnan O’Connor, Conor McEntee, Olly Maloney and Eoghan McCague and what a masterstroke that turned out to be. Indeed, the trio scored 4-2 between them, with former Meath minor man Maloney netting not one, not two, but three goals. And while goals win games and also make for good headlines, this victory was one secured by a herculean effort by a team very intent on putting their poor league form well and truly behind them. Man-for-man, they worked, they battled, and they never once panicked despite actually going seven points down in the first half. 

Early on, things were nip and tuck, with O’Mahonys drawing first blood courtesy of a point from the boot of Ivo Fitzherbert, but it was soon cancelled out by the first of three goals from Maloney. Wing back Conor Lenehan sent a ball in to the far post from the left wing, and Maloney pounced, sending the ball past Niall Devlin to give the Blacks an early two-point cushion.

However, O’Mahonys came into this encounter as favourites and certainly lived up to that billing during the opening 30 minutes. As the half drew to a close, they had opened up a 2-7 to 1-3 advantage after  Jake Regan converted a penalty, and another goal, courtesy of Duggie Dillon, saw them cruising.

Before the interlude, the experienced Aron McLoughlin and captain Mark Foy split the posts, and those two scores proved absolutely vital as Walterstown headed for the dressing room five in arrears, with the advantage of the wind to come in the second half. 

However, it was Damien Moran’s side that came out and drew first blood after the turnaround, with Fitzherbert, once again, raising a white flag to give his side a six-point cushion. At that juncture, the script was all going according to plan for the Hoops. 

Walterstown, however, had a different script and went off to pick apart O’Mahony’s lead. Seven minutes into the new half, young Fionnan O’Connor reduced the deficit back down to five when he split the posts, and this was followed by another point from the boot of Conor Lenehan. 

Down the other end, Aodhan Mallon made it a five-point game, but 22 minutes passed between that score and the next from O’Mahonys. 

Shooting in to hospital end Maloney changed that deficit from five to three when he showed superb composure to, once again, hit the onion sack and he side smelled blood. Just two minutes later he had the ball in Devlin’s net once again and Walterstown had edged themselves (3-7 to 2-9) in front. 

And all the momentum was with the Blacks at this stage, as they impressively harried, swarmed and out-worked their opponents. Conor Lenehan swung over another point on 47 minutes just before the Blacks made their first change of the afternoon. 

Young Adam Murphy, also making his championship debut, was introduced for Adam Quinn, and he probably scored the game’s most important score just seconds after entering the fray. It came from a mark, which Murphy converted brilliantly from out left, and it gave his side a three-point cushion and the impetus to push on and ensure the opening-round win. 

Neil McGinley’s followed that with another point in the 55th minute and in the 59th minute Walterstown made full sure of the victory when midfield man Conor McEntee rattled the net to give his side a 4-10 to 2-9 advantage. The icing on the cake followed with Fionnan O’Connor swinging over another and despite four minutes of time added on, there was no way back for the town side. Shane Maguire did pull one back for O’Mahony’s in the dying seconds but it was the Blacks who took the round one spoils. 

And now Andy McGuinness’ charges turn their attention to round two where they meet Kilbride, who also opened with a win over St Michael’s. That game takes place in Ratoath on Saturday, August 24. 

SCORERS: Walterstown - Olly Maloney 3-0, Neil McGinley 0-3 (1f, 1 mark), Conor McEntee 1-0, Fionnan O’Connor 0-2, Conor Lenehan 0-2, Mark Foy 0-2, Aron McLoughlin 0-1, Adam Murphy 0-1 ( 1 mark). 

Navan O’Mahony’s - Jake Regan 1-3, Ivo Fitzherbert 0-3, Duggie Dillon 1-0, Robbie Keelaghan 0-1, Conor Finnegan 0-1, Shane Maguire 0-1, Aodhán Mallon 0-1. 

WALTERSTOWN: Mark McCormack; Eoghan McCague, Alan Wall, Jack Doyle; Ciaran Cox, Breandan McGuinness, Conor Lenehan; Mark Foy, Conor McEntee; Adam Quinn, Fionnan O’Connor, Aron McLoughlin; Conor Farrelly, Neil McGinley, Olly Maloney. SUBS: Adam Murphy replaced A Quinn, Jack Wilson replaced A Wall. 

NAVAN O’MAHONYS: Niall Devlin; Darragh Murphy, Sam Formosa, Brian Dillon; Sean Betson, Niall McGrane, Aodhán Mallon; Conor Brady, Evan Coffey; Duggie Dillon, Robbie Keelaghan, Conor Finnegan; Jake Regan, Oisín O’Brien, Ivo Fitzherbert. SUBS: Ronan Clarke replaced C Finnegan, Shane Maguire replaced B Dillon, Mike O’Reilly replaced E Coffey. 

REFEREE: Martin Dawson

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