O'Mahonys scoop the Feis Cup

Navan O'Mahonys claimed the Feis Cup for the first time in two decades when they bridged a 19-year gap with a narrow victory over Dunboyne at Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday evening. This was the Navan club's 10th success in the competition and it required a late David Bray goal to turn the tide against a battling Dunboyne side that was ahead by the minimum at the interval (1-2 to 0-4). Dunboyne were bidding to make amends for last year's final defeat by Seneschalstown, but they ran out of steam in the closing stages Bray's goal arrived with nine minutes remaining after a Paddy Smyth free released the county player who finished well past Dunboyne custodian Johnny O'Connor. Apart from his goal, Bray made a big contribution to this success and claimed four points from play as O'Mahonys slowly generated a head of steam which helped them across the finishing line. For departing manager Sean Kelly, this was a positive way to leave the Brews Hill club as he added the Feis Cup to last year's Keegan Cup which represented a good return for his tenure along with Sean Barry. "It's nice to out on a winning note I suppsoe, but when you get to a final you have to prepared to give it your best shot," the O'Mahonys manager told the Meath Chronicle. "We made hard work of it early on, but we showed a bit more in the second-half and I'm delighted for the lads and I'm sure they will go on to more success next year," he added. Dunboyne were more threatening in the opening half and O'Mahonys netminder Mark Brennan had a lucky early escape when he fumbled Gerry Gallagher's lofted centre, but managed to clear the danger. A brace of Stephen Moran points got Dunboyne off the mark, but Bray, Lee Russell and Smyth countered for the Navan side. Russell's driving shot skimmed the top of the crossbar as O'Mahonys wrestled the initiative briefly before poor defending gifted a goal opportunity for Conor O'Donoghue at the other end. O'Mahonys countered and Mark Ward was denied a goal when O'Connor saved well at the expense of a '45' before Craig Berrigan dropped the ball and Russell pounced for his second point close to the interval. Dunboyne resumed smartly with a Gerry Gallagher point, but as the tempo increased Bray's brace drew the sides level (1-3 to 0-6) and when Damien Moran found himself in an advanced position, he gave O'Mahonys the lead with 12 minutes remaining. Dunboyne visibly wilted at this stage and when Bray netted soon after it left Declan Mahon's side with a huge task which got bigger when Cormac McGuinness split the posts. Late points from Sean McGarrell (two) left only a goal in it, but when substitute Shane Gillespie made the opening for Bray's last point it sealed victory for the Navan side. Gillespie had a busy day as he also assisted St Patrick's CS, Navan to victory in the Leinster Colleges' SFC first round at Naas that afternoon. Navan O'Mahonys - M Brennan; S O'Toole, A Rogers, N McKeigue; C Reilly, D Moran (0-1), C McGuinness (0-1); G O'Dowd, M Ward; L Russell (0-2), R Geraghty, S McKeigue; D Bray (1-4), P Smyth (0-1), G O'Brien. Subs - J O'Reilly for Reilly 42 mins, D Murtagh for Russell 44m, S Gillespie for O'Dowd 58m. Dunboyne - J O'Connor; S Hogan, S McKenna, G Timoney; C Brennan, D Gallagher, G Watters; C Berrigan, S McGarrell (0-2); D Clarke, G Gallagher (0-1), M O'Grady; G Robinson, C O'Donoghue (1-0), S Moran (0-2, two frees). Subs - T O'Connor for Clarke 48 mins, M Confey for O'Grady 57m. Referee - Liam O'Brien (Duleek / Bellewstown).