Fancied O'Mahonys shocked by resurgent Walterstown

Maloney hat-trick helps the Blacks take down the Hoops

Walterstown...4-11

Navan O'Mahonys...2-10

Sport you have to love it. Not least for the way shock results can be achieved by the underdog every now and again.

When all predictions and expectations are made to look way off the mark. When a David slays a Goliath.

Walterstown's victory over Navan O'Mahonys in the IFC at Pairc Tailteann today has to go down as major shock partly because of the way the contest panned out with championship debutant Olly Maloney helping himself to a hat-trick of goals.

At half-time in this engaging contest strong favourites O'Mahonys led 2-7 to 1-5. After 42 minutes they were in front by 2-9 to 1-7 and were looking composed and in control. Then it all starting to go awry for them. A little crazy.

With the Blacks struggling to grain traction Conor Farrelly launched a high ball into the O'Mahonys' goalmouth. The dropping ball landed in the arms of last year's Meath minor panelist Maloney who found a few millimetres of space. He turned and fired to the net. It was the young marksman's second goal of the afternoon and left just two points between the sides.

His opening goal had arrived just five minutes into the game and came gift-wrapped. O'Mahonys goalkeeper Niall Devlin and a defender looked to have a kick for goal that dropped short well covered. Somehow the two players in hooped jerseys got their lines crossed. Maloney nipped in and fired home.

O'Mahonys came back well from that setback to lead at the break but the concession of Maloney's second goal energised the Boys in Black, big time. However, it was Maloney's third goal almost immediately after his second that really shook O'Mahonys. That goal put Walterstown in the lead, 3-7 to 2-9 for the second time.

This time they stayed there and sealed the deal with a brilliantly worked goal, finished superbly by Conor McEntee on 58 minutes. That score applied the cream topping on a victory that was greeted by a standing ovation at the end from long-suffering Walterstown followers.

At times this young, inexperienced Walterstown side looked like they could be submerged by their opponents. On other occasions they played with a energy, hunger, durabiliy, toughness and sturdy confidence that augurs well for them.

Added to the superbly taken goals there were a quota of well-worked points from play garnered by players such as Neil McGinley, Fionnan O'Connor, Conor Lenehan, inspirational captain Mark Foy, Adam Murphy and Aron McLoughlin.

O'Mahonys are one of the teams who some (including this correspondent) had predicted could go on to win the McDonnell Cup. That looks a very long shot now.

As they pick through the wreckage of this defeat they will wonder where it went so wrong. Their first-half goals were bagged by Jake Regan (from a neatly struck penalty) and Duggie Dillon who did extremely well to collect a high ball sent in by Oisin O'Brien and find the net.

With the breeze to help them O'Mahonys played some fine, swashbuckling football. Ivo Fitzherbert scored one of his three points immediately after half-time to give the Hoops a six point advantage. Few would have bet against them at that stage.

However this young Walterstown side - guided by manager Andy McGuinness and selectors Johnny Behan and Wayne McCarthy - showed they are made of stern stuff. The right stuff.

Walterstown - Mark McCormack; Eoghan McCague, Alan Wall, Jack Doyle; Ciaran Cox, Breandan McGuinness, Conor Lenehan (0-2); Mark Foy (0-2), Conor McEntee (1-0); Adam Quinn, Fionnan O'Connor (0-2), Aron McLoughlin (0-1); Conor Farrelly, Neil McGinley (0-3, one free, one mark), Olly Maloney (3-0). Subs - Adam Murphy (0-1) for Quinn 44m, Jack Wilson for Wall 61m.

Navan O'Mahonys - Niall Devlin; Darragh Murphy, Sam Formosa, Brian Dillon; Sean Betson, Niall McGrane, Aodhan Mallon (0-1); Conor Brady, Evan Coffey; Duggie Dillon (1-0), Robbie Keelaghan, Conor Finnegan (0-1); Jake Regan (1-3, goal penalty, two frees), Oisin O'Brien (0-1 free), Ivo Fitzherbert (0-3). Subs - Ronan Clarke for Finnegan 39m, Shane Maguire (0-1) for Coffey, Mike O'Reilly for D Dillon both 47m, Craig Munnelly O'Toole for Fitzherbert 52m.

Referee - Martin Dawson (St Michael's).