O'Mahonys maintained their Seamus Connolly Catering A FL Division 1 title bid with a narrow win at Donaghmore-Ashbourne on Saturday night.

Navan O'Mahonys 1-9
Donaghmore-Ashbourne 1-7

The holders outscored the home side by 0-6 to 0-3 in the second-half of a keenly contested game to record their sixth win from eight starts to move into second place behind Dunboyne.

Jake Regan again took scoring honours for the Brews Hill outfit with 1-4. His tally was completed by a 46th minute long range free that left three points, 1-7 to 1-4, between the sides for the first time in the game.

Points from corner-back James O'Reilly and Henry Finnegan (free) left Donaghmore-Ashbourne needing two scores to regain parity.

Two goal chances came the home side's way in the latter stages but a sound O'Mahonys defence well-marshalled by Niall McKeigue held out.

Points from Conor Carton and Eoin Reilly halved the deficit with time almost up as O'Mahonys recorded their sixth win from eight league outings.

This fourth defeat from eight league fixtures probably ends Donaghmore-Ashbourne hopes of lifting the Mooney Cup.

Leo Turley's side got off to a flying start with points from Ciaran Beirne and Eoin Reilly - operating as a third midfielder - within a minute of the off.

O'Mahonys hit the front in the 10th minute, 1-1 to 0-3, as Regan netted when put through by Ian Matthews.

By the 12th minute it was 1-2 to 0-3 after Andy Leech, Alan Forde and Damien Moran linked to create opening for Ward to point.

The most significant score of the second quarter was Conor Carton's 18th minute goal to restore Donaghamore-Ashbourne's advantage. It was the culmination of a move begun by prominent full-back Sean Curran.

Regan levelled from a free but a similar score from Eric Callaghan left the home side 1-4 to 1-3 ahead at the interval.

A fisted Regan point left the scores locked for the second and final time within two minutes of the resumption.

Six minutes later Paddy Smyth restored O'Mahonys' lead with the help of Stephen MacGabhann, Regan and Ward and there they remained.

O'Mahonys - Marcas Brennan; James O'Reilly (0-1), Niall McKeigue, Ian Matthews; Brian Dillon, Cormac McGuinness, Andy Leech; Damien Moran, Mark Ward (0-2); Henry Finnegan (0-1 f), Paddy Smyth (0-1), Alan Forde; Shane Gillespie, Jake Regan (1-4, 0-3 fs), Stephen MacGabhann. Sub - Sean Keating for Leech (52), Leech for Dillon (53).

Donaghmore-Ashbourne - Andy Colgan; Jason Boland, Sean Curran, Eoin Riordan; Ciaran Ellis, Shane Melia, Paul Gilligan; Rory O'Connor, David Morgan (0-1); Cathal Field, Conor Carton (1-1), Iarlaith O'Donnell; Ciaran Beirne (0-1), Eric Callaghan (0-2 fs), Eoin Reilly (0-2). Subs - JP Casserly for Boland (41), John Broderick for Field (43), Aidan Hughes for O'Connor (48).

Referee - Joey Curley (Moynalty) Tweet

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