Navan O’Mahony’s 3-18 Dunshaughlin 2-12

Navan O’Mahony’s third team footballers made it back to back championships on Saturday afternoon in Walterstown, overcoming Dunshaughlin in an exciting final of the JACFC Div 4.

Although Dunshaughlin took an early lead, O’Mahony’s had a great start with Clayton O’Sullivan kicking two two-pointers and a goal all in less than 150 seconds after five minutes. Ciaran McGuinness pointed a free after a breach of the three-up rule and a Kian McGee score, after a play that he initiate at the opposite end of the pitch left eight in it.

Further scores from McGuinness and Paul Cunningham left eleven between the sides. After eighteen scoreless minutes for them, Dunshaughlin kicked a point from play which McGuinness responded to with a similar effort. Dunshaughlin had had a number of scoring opportunities, with a few wides and short balls under enormous pressure from Diarmuid O Bric, Eimhin Power and Niall Gorman. Andy Leech, who covered almost every blade of grass on the pitch added a point from play. With four minutes remaining, Power, Gorman, McGee and Hugo Fitzherbert combined to clear a goal opportunity to safety but Dunshaughlin broke through a minute later to find the net. Following this up with a two-point free and a score from play, the gap was down to five at the interval.

Navan O’Mahony’s 1-11 Dunshaughlin 1-06

Conor McEvoy got his side motoring again in the second half with an impressive score. Dunshaughlins first score of the half came in the seventh minute when they looked to be through on goal. Under pressure from Gorman, they took the point. After a one-two with McEvoy, McGuinness added another score to leave six between the sides again.

A goal and two points from Dunshaughlin in under two minutes seemed to derail O’Mahony’s and only one point separated the sides. Although McGuinness increased the gap to two after a great pass from Jack Lafford, the next three scores came from Dunshaughlin who took the advantage. A McGuinness point with ten minutes remaining drew the sides level and gave John Nugent’s charges the lift they needed. The depth of the O’Mahony’s panel was soon apparent. Substitute Thomas Cully restored the lead to O’Mahony’s when he pulled on the ball on the ground to find the net before another substitute, Max Farrelly added a point following a gut-bursting run from Tommy Carroll.

When Dunshaughlin needed a goal, the O’Mahony’s backs were sturdy as ever with O Bric and Gorman standing strong. Killian Clarke Doggett and Lafford combined to deliver a dangerous looking ball to safety. Sean Smyth also made an impact on his introduction, scoring two frees and momentum was now firmly back with the Brews Hill side. The final score of the game came from Cully, or Cúl-ly as his team-mates christened him after the event, when he found the net again.

Captain Ciaran McGuinness accepted the trophy on behalf of the team from Navan O’Mahony’s stalwart Michael Bennett.

Navan O’Mahony’s: Brían Yourell, Diarmuid O Bric, Eimhin Power, Niall Gorman, Jack Lafford, Killian Clarke Doggett, Kian McGee (0-01), Tommy Carroll, Andy Leech (0-01), Conor McEvoy (0-01), Clayton O’Sullivan (1-04, 1 2PF, 1F), Hugo Fitzherbert, Ben Forde, Ciaran McGuinness (0-07, 2F), Paul Cunninham (0-01)

Subs: Sean Smyth (0-02, 2F) for Forde, Thomas Cully (2-0) for Cunningham, Ciaran Vaughan for McEvoy, Max Farrelly (0-01) for McGee, Sean Fanning for McGuinness.

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