Navan O’Mahony’s 3-11 Longford Slashers 3-12

A disappointing end to a great game of football ensued in Michael Fay Park in Longford as the hosts took the lead while Meghan Collins was being attended to for a head injury. After the lead changing hands many times, only the narrowest of margins separated the teams.

The Longford Champions were straight off the mark from the throw in, setting down the gauntlet for the visitors. What looked set to be Navan O’Mahony’s first score of the game from Órlaith Mallon didn’t materialise as play was stopped for a head injury to a Longford Slashers player.

Aoibheann Leahy kicked Navan O’Mahony’s first point of the game. Slashers took the lead again with a point before O’Mahony’s broke through a strong defence. A well-placed pass from Olivia Callan to Meghan Collins resulted in the latter finding the net, for the first of six goals in the game. A further score from both sides left two points the difference at the first water break. 

Two points from Heskin and Leahy stretched Navan O’Mahony’s lead to four points. Slashers responded with two well-kicked points, before Callan restored the lead with two points of her own. The closing ten minutes of the second half proved to be Slashers strongest period of the game. A goal and four points left three between the sides in the closing minutes before Slashers managed to double it with a goal just before half time.

Half Time
Navan O’Mahony’s 2-09
Longford Slashers 1-06

Phil Fay’s were quick off the mark in the second half, with Mallon scoring in the opening seconds of the half. Two minutes later, Slashers had increased their lead to six points again with a long-distance point from a free. 

Navan O’Mahony’s demonstrated the famed Meath “Never Say Die” attitude in the second half showing great grit to claw the lead back. A point each from Callan, Mallon and Collins meant there was only a kick of a ball between the two teams. 

This deficit looked to be nullified when Navan O’Mahony’s were through on goal but were fouled in the square. Leahy stepped over the penalty kick and made no mistake in placing the ball out of the reach of the Slashers goalie, leaving the sides on level terms once again. 

After being down six points at half time, Navan O’Mahony’s found themselves four points in the lead with ten minutes to go following two great scores, a point from Mallon and a goal from Callan. Slashers worked hard to break through the Navan O’Mahony’s defence and were almost through on goal only for the quick thinking of Sarah Powderly putting the ball over the line to the safety of a 45, which was duly converted. A block from Lily Dwyer also prevented another attack from the hosts. 

Slashers kept their cool and kicked a point to leave only two points between the sides. In the course of an attempt at an insurance point, Collins suffered a blow to the head in front of the Slashers goal. While she was receiving attention from the physio, Slashers launched a counter-attack. Despite goalkeeper Ciara Blake and Powderly making life as difficult as possible for the Slashers forwards, they eventually broke through to score the winning goal. 

Following the kickout, a sideline ball ensued at which point play was stopped due to the injury. It seems fitting that there was only the narrowest of margins between the two teams, who had battled strongly for the full hour. Navan O’Mahony’s were left disappointed at the final whistle, whilst it is Longford Slashers who progress to the semi final

Navan O’Mahony’s:  Ciara Blake, Sophia Fitzherbert, Kate Falahee, Aoibhín McKenny, Michelle Beggy, Sarah Powderly, Lily Dwyer, Tara Fay, Eimear Fay, Hannah Heskin (0-01), Aoibheann Leahy (1-02), Ailbhe Leahy, Órlaith Mallon (0-04), Meghan Collins (1-01), Olivia Callan (1-03)

Subs: Dee Forde for Beggy, Rebecca Reilly for McKenny

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