IFC quarter final: Impressive O'Mahony's advance

Niall Higgins keeps his eye on the ball for Navan O'Mahony's during their IFC quarter final clash against Meath Hill at Castletown

Navan O’Mahony’s 1-17
Meath Hill 1-09

In a repeat of the 2024 IFC Final, the results were reversed as Navan O’Mahony’s came out on top of Meath Hill in Castletown in front of a large crowd on Friday evening to earn their place in the semi-finals.

With rain pouring down and a howling wind, it was game-management for O’Mahony’s in the first half playing against the conditions. Ronan Clarke edged O’Mahony’s ahead before Meath Hill equalised in the fifth minute. The sides exchanged points with Meath Hill getting a two-pointer and Cormac Nugent converting a free.

Duggie Dillon found the net after a pass from Aodhan Mallon, bursting through the Meath Hill defence. Meath Hill responded with a point from play before Evan Coffey, who impressed throughout, kicked a good score. Things were looking good for O’Mahony’s, ahead in spite of the wind when Meath Hill took the lead with a goal and followed up with two points before half time. Meath Hill kicked a number of wides in this half, under great pressure from the backs led by Darragh Murphy, Conor Brady, Darragh Maguire and Niall McGrane.=. Three points separated the sides at the break, with O’Mahony’s happy with their game to this point.

Navan O’Mahony’s 1-03
Meath Hill 1-06

Meath Hill came out determined to hold onto their lead and extended it three minutes into the half, putting four between the sides when a high ball into the square was directed over the bar. 

O’Mahony’s settled when Sean Betson, who put in a trojan shift, played the ball to Clarke who was then fouled. Mallon converted the resulting free and four minutes later kicked an impressive two-pointer to leave the narrowest between the sides. An excellent two-pointer from Coffey regained the lead for O’Mahony’s within two minutes and momentum had well and truly swung in favour of the Brews Hill men.

The same duo kicked another score each to extend their lead, with Nugent adding another score. Niall Higgins added his name to the scoresheet with a fisted point, a just reward for a hard shift from the Roscommon man. Substitutes made their mark when entering the fray, with Christy Dillon, set up by James O’Reilly, adding a point and Robbie Keelaghan kicking two, having been set up by Paddy Dillon and Ivo Fitzherbert.

O’Mahony’s looked comfortable at this stage and saw out the game well. Further points from Keelaghan and Nugent extended the lead, with the North Meath men kicking the last score.

Navan O’Mahony’s: Jamie O’Reilly, Darragh Murphy, Paddy Dillon, Conor Brady, Darragh Maguire, Niall McGrane, Sean Betson, Niall Higgins (0-01), Aodhán Mallon (0-04, 1F, 1 2P), Ivo Fitzherbert, Jack Quinn, Duggie Dillon (1-00), Ronan Clarke (0-01), Evan Coffey (0-04, 1 2) Cormac Nugent (0-03, 3F)

Robbie Keelaghan (0-03) for Quinn, James O’Reilly for Maguire, Christy Dillon (0-01) for Clarke, Shane McCarthy for Fitzherbert, Eoghan Nugent for Nugent