Ladies SFC: O'Mahony's secure home quarter-final

Orlaith Mallon in action for Navan O'Mahony's against Dee Rangers

Navan O’Mahonys 1-7
Dee Rangers 0-6

Navan O’Mahonys Ladies welcomed Dee Rangers to Paddy O’Brien Park on Friday evening for the final group game of the Meath Senior Football Championship. Rain arrived shortly before the 8pm throw-in, leaving wet and slippery conditions for what developed into a tight, defensive contest.

O’Mahonys settled well, with Muireann Nelson and Orlaith Mallon getting the opening scores before Isabel Thorpe found the net from play to give the home side an early cushion. Charlie Murray followed with another point as O’Mahonys took control of the scoreboard.

Dee Rangers found space difficult to come by against a disciplined O’Mahonys defence, with the full-back and half-back lines working hard to break up attacks and force errors. Sarah Maguire was strong at the heart of the defence, while Holly McKeigue worked hard from half-back and Robyn Murray made an important save to help keep the visitors scoreless for much of the opening half. Orlaith Mallon added her second point before the interval, with Dee Rangers responding with two frees late in the half. 

Navan O’Mahonys 1-04
Dee Rangers 0-02

The second half followed a similar pattern, with scores difficult to come by and much of the game shaped by hard work, tackling and defensive pressure. O’Mahonys continued to get bodies back, with the midfield covering plenty of ground and the forwards working hard without the ball. Milly Clarke-Carolan’s work rate was particularly important from half-forward, constantly tracking back and putting pressure on Dee Rangers as they tried to build attacks.

Dee Rangers gradually reduced the gap, but O’Mahonys continued to defend strongly and Charlie Murray added an important point from midfield to keep the home side in front. With the visitors continuing to push in the closing stages, Murray landed her third point of the evening to give O’Mahonys some breathing room, before Robyn Murray produced another save late on to help see out a hard-earned four-point victory. 

The result sees Navan O’Mahonys finish second in the group, securing a home quarter-final as the Senior Championship moves into the knockout stages.

Navan O’Mahonys: Robyn Murray, Sophia Fitzherbert, Sarah Maguire, Sarah Powderly, Holly McKeigue, Hannah Heskin, Lilly Dwyer, Rebecca Reilly, Charlie Murray (0-3), Milly Clarke-Carolan, Lauren Woods, Isabel Thorpe (1-0), Orlaith Mallon (0-2), Ailbhe Leahy, Muireann Nelson (0-2).