Navan O’Mahony’s 0-13 St Peters Dunboyne 0-16

In spite of their efforts in the closing minutes, O’Mahony’s couldn’t get the elusive goal that would have drawn the game in Paddy O’Brien Park on Thursday evening.

In ideal conditions for hurling, the scores came quick in the first half, with the visitors adding two points within the first ninety seconds. Jack McConnell responded with a point and within sixty seconds later, a narrow-angle shot from Finn Malone drew the sides level. 

It was point-for-point again for the next few minutes, with neither team gaining much of an advantage. Dunboyne took the lead twice, with Jack Walsh drawing level almost immediately on both occasions. Indeed, it was Walsh who gave O’Mahony’s the lead for the first time in the twelfth minute.

Again, points were matched at one end of the field to the other. An impressive score from Walsh followed a well-placed pass from Colm O’Toole on the midway mark. Sean McDermott added his name to the score-sheet and Dunboyne’s best goal opportunity of the match was denied by a quick reaction from John Foley. After a Cormac Keyes point, four points in a row from Dunboyne in a five-minute spell swapped the lead in their favour before Walsh clawed one back with a free before half time.

Navan O’Mahony’s 0-09 St Peters Dunboyne 0-11

The intensity of the scoring of the first half wasn’t matched in the second, and nine minutes had elapsed before a flag was raised from a Walsh free, leaving the bare minimum between the teams.  The visitors responded in turn straight away.

Four minutes later, Walsh sent a sideline straight between the posts and one point separated the sides again. Three points in as many minutes midway through the half put a bit of breathing space between the teams, although the game was very much in the balance.

Another goal opportunity for Dunboyne was prevented when Ben McEntagart blocked the shot before clearing the ball to safety. Three minutes remained when Walsh scored a point from a free to leave three points between the sides before Dunboyne won the resulting puckout and scored.

Walsh repeated the feat, this time from play and O’Mahony’s knew that only a goal would do as the clock ticked down. A high ball into the square from a free was sent out for a 65 and another couple of balls that could have posed a threat were cleared to safety by the visiting defence. The goal had still eluded the home side when the final whistle went and St Peter’s Dunboyne ran out as three point victors.

Navan O’Mahony’s: John Foley, Michael Reavey, Ben McEntagart, Finn McNally, Colm O’Toole, Eoghan Nugent, Cormac O’Shea, Rio Russell, Jack McConnell (0-01) Jack Walsh (0-09), Finn Malone (0-01), Cormac Keyes (0-01), Mark Usher, Shane McCarthy, Sean McDermott (0-01)

Subs: Evan Cully for Russell, Killian Clarke-Doggett for McCarthy, Brian Dunne for O’Toole 

Tweet

Most Read Stories