O'Mahonys tighten grip on the Keegan Cup

Navan O'Mahonys took another step in the defence of their SFC crown when they produced an improved second-half performance to get the better of beleaguered Dunshaughlin in the quarter-final at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. O'Mahonys had to start without the injured Barry Regan, who sustained an ankle injury last week, while Kevin Reilly is also a long-term absentee, but they will take confidence from the fact that 11 of their 12 points against Dunshaughlin were from play. Wind-assisted Dunshaughlin started brightly and Cathal O'Dwyer raced through the heart of the Navan rearguard inside 60 seconds. He attempted an opportunist chip over O'Mahonys 'keeper Marcus Brennan who finger-tipped to safety at the expense of a wasted '45.' That was a hallmark of Dunshaughlin's performance before a couple of Niall Kelly pointed frees put them in the ascendancy. Ross Geraghty's point from play eased O'Mahonys into the game after nine minutes and then Shane McKeigue provided the pass for David Bray to draw the sides level in the 10th minute. Dunshaughlin corner back Anthony Johnson broke up a lot of the early O'Mahonys pressure with some timely interceptions, but he limped out of the action after only 23 minutes. Dunshaughlin centre-back Michael Ahern, who deputised for the suspended Michael Mchale, was also solid at the back while Martin Reilly and Kelly pointed a free apiece before Gordon Ward's men posed a serious question through Conor Staunton's goal. O'Dwyer made the opening when he raced onto a long ball out of defence and as Niall McKeigue stumbled the Dunshaughlin player was left clear. Kelly fielded his centre, but Brennan parried the initial shot into the path of Staunton who rifled to the roof of the net. However, Kelly struggled for the remainder due to injury and he was eventually replaced by Ciaran Farrelly late in the second-half O'Mahonys replied with points from Geraghty and Shane McKeigue and when Dunshaughlin lost Johnson to that injury it briefly created a gap at the back which the reigning champions exploited instantly. Shane McKeigue broke a high ball for Bray who set up Paddy Smyth for a well-taken goal from a tight angle which drew the sides level, 1-4 apiece. O'Mahonys failed to establish their superiority on the scoreboard, due mainly to some dreadful finishing, until midfielder Mark Ward split the posts from play a minute into first-half injury-time which gave the Navan men a slender 1-5 to 1-4 interval advantage. The early part of the second-half was a dour affair with O'Mahonys grinding down the opposition who offered hardly any real resistance. Lee Russell claimed a bizzare goal when his cross from the left bounced off Ronan Gogan's chest and deflected into the net. That score, along with points from Shane McKeigue (two) and Bray gave O'Mahonys an unassailable seven-point advantage which had increased to nine (2-10 to 1-4) by the end of the third-quarter. The remainder was academic as O'Mahonys went through the motions and almost effortlessly booked their place in the last four, although Dunshaughlin's determination was rewarded with a late flourish. Staunton claimed a second goal which added some respectability to the scoreboard while at the other end O'Mahonys struggled to hit the target, but they were never in any great danger. Dunshaughlin can highlight some mitigating circumstances such as the loss of Johnson in the first-half, Kelly's injury and the absence of suspended McHale. "I suppose both teams can point to injuries before or during the game, but that's the way it goes and we are just happy to be in the last four," stated O'Mahonys manager Sean Kelly. "We haven't got too long to get ready for the semi-final, Wolfe Tones are going really well at the moment and we will have to improve our shooting, we can't afford 12 wides the next day," he added. Navan O'Mahonys - M Brennan; D Moran, N McKeigue, S O'Toole; C Reilly, S Crosby, G O'Brien (0-1); C McGuinness, M Ward (0-1); L Russell (1-0), R Geraghty (0-3), H Finnegan; P Smyth (1-0), S McKeigue (0-3), D Bray (0-3, one free). Subs - J Regan for Smyth 54 mins; D Murtagh for Russell, D Maguire (0-1) for Finnegan, both 58m. Dunshaughlin - R Gogan;T Johnson, K McTigue, A Johnson; D Kealy, M Ahern, C King; J Crimmins, R Maloney; N Kelly (0-3, three frees), T Dowd, M Reilly (0-1, free); R Kealy (0-2, one free), C O'Dwyer, C Staunton (2-0). Subs - C Devereux for A Johnson 23 mins; M Johnson for Reilly 40m; C Farrelly for Kelly 48m. Referee - Joey Curley (Moynalty).