Navan O’Mahonys 2-11 Blackhall Gaels 1-07

Second half goals expertly finished by Lizzy Brennan and Mia McNally proved to be the decisive scores in this Division 2 first round clash in Batterstown.

The two teams who had battled it out in the Senior B championship final last October were evenly matched throughout a cagey first half which saw both back lines on top. This was evident in the relatively low half time score of 6 points each. While scores were at a premium there was no shortage of effort from the Navan girls and they did mange to put together some excellent play at times – one flowing move down the carpark sideline involving Megan Kinsella and Annie Hogan resulted in Cara Ratty finishing with a great point. Just before half time a clever handpass from Zoe Shakespeare put Izzy Kinsella in space who converted to bring the sides level.

Halftime O’Mahonys 0.06  Blackhall Gaels 0.06

Mia McNally and Anna Gardiner entered the fray for O’Mahonys for the second half and both girls made vital contributions. On a night for defenders, the Navan full back line in particular stood up to several dangerous attacks from the home team. With scores hard to come by, a goal was always going to prove significant and O’Mahonys plundered two inside an eight-minute spell midway through the second half. They will be disappointed however, to have allowed Blackhall to answer back immediately with a brilliantly taken goal of their own from Ciara Foley. To be fair it was one of the only lapses in concentration from the team in blue and white who will now look forward to a home match against Clann Na Gael in the next round.

O'Mahony's: Mags Tomkins , Caoimhe McKenna , Amanda Feeney , Alannah Brady , Megan Kinsella (0-01), Saoirse O’Regan , Dayna Keogh , Annie Hogan , Aoibhin Kielty (0-02) , Zoe Shakespeare (0-01) , Katie Fitzgerald , Ailbhe Leahy (0-01) , Cara Ratty , Izzy Kinsella , Lizzy Brennan (1-04)

Subs: Mia McNally  (1-01) for Ratty , Anna Gardiner for Shakespeare , Ruth Stewart for Fitzgerald

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