Important win for Cosmos
Twelve months ago Navan Cosmos probably would not have won this game, but tonight at the MDL they demolished title-chasing Abbey Celtic with a four-goal second-half blitz that suggests this time around that the Navan men will probably win the title.
It's not a sentiment that was expressed by manager Derek Coogan in a post-match interview (to be published in the next edition of the Meath Chronicle out Tuesday evening), but it's a judgement by this correspondent who watched Cosmos falter on the run-in last season.
This time around, Cosmos have a more solid look about them.
For example, it's the second time I have wathced them this year and on each occasion they carved out 4-0 victories.
Add in the fact that they missed an early first-half penalty - a real miss (see video clip).
They also failed to score in the opening half despite bombarding the opposition for most of the 45 minutes - they hit the post (each post) and the crossbar and won close to a dozen corners.
And yet, Abbey looked dangerous on the break.
However, that danger was diluted nine minutes into the second-half when the steely side of Cosmos surfaced.
Conor Walsh made up for the penalty miss by setting up Rob Coombes (who missed a penalty last week) - on this occasion Coombes found the net.
McManus added a second goal soon after and Coombes went on to complete his hat-trick with one superb effort and one that was more of the 'gift' variety when the over-worked Abbey goalkeeper Bryan Smith misjudged the shot.
Abbey also finished with 10 men after Niall Levins was red-carded by referee Reuben McManus with about 15 minutes remaining.
Cosmos saw out the closing stages without too much difficulty and will have a week off now as they have a number of players involved in the NEFL panel for the Oscar Traynor Trophy quarter-final away to Donegal next weekend.
TABLE - TOP FIVE
P W D L Pts
Navan Cosmos 14 11 2 1 35
Newfoundwell 14 9 3 2 30
Trim Celtic 15 8 4 3 28
Abbey Celtic 14 8 2 4 26
Rock Celtic 11 7 0 4 21
KEY GAME - SUNDAY
Trim Celtic v Rock Celtic
Cosmos remaining League games
Rock Celtic v Navan Cosmos
Navan Cosmos v Newfoundwell
Dromin v Navan Cosmos
Kentstown v Navan Cosmos
Navan Cosmos v Trim Celtic
Abbey Celtic v Navan Cosmos