O'Mahonys survive late surge to book final spot
There were plenty of chewed nails and skipped heart beats among the Navan O'Mahonys fraternity as they survived a late surge from Castletown to book their place in the IFC final with a 2-9 to 1-9 win at Pairc Tailteann today.
Leading y nine points at the three-quarters stage O'Mahonys added just one point in the last 22 minutes of action as Castletown gave themselves a chance.
Four points in nine minutes from Rian McConnell (free), Declan Cribbin, Daragh Kelly and Kevin Ross (free) closed the gap to 0-9 to 2-8 with five minutes remaining.
O'Mahonys added a ninth point to their tally when the hugely influential Aodhan Mallon fisted over, put instead of restoring calm that score served to ignite chaos as Castletown went in search of game-saving goals.
It was 30 seconds into the three minutes of injury-time when they did eventually find the net as Mark Kelly punched a loose ball over the white line following a mother and father of a scramble.
O'Mahonys were at their wits end, living on their nerves. Castletown went on the attack again with a close range drive that stung the face a defender.
From the resultant '45' Killian Smyth went with a driver instead of a nine iron and his delivery sailed wide. O'Mahonys held on.
That final quarter excitement was in stark contrast to the quality of the contest that preceded it.
There was only one score in a dire opening quarter - an 11th minute 13-metre free converted by Rian McConnell that gave Castletown the lead for the only time.
O'Mahonys responded in the 16th minute with a brilliant goal that was created by Mallon and brilliantly finished by Oisin O'Brien.
That goal sparked a flurry of scores as Castletown drew level through Cribbin and Adam Matthews, but O'Mahonys found their shooting boots in the closing 10 minutes of the half.
Points from O'Brien, Duggie Dillon, Mallon (free), Keelaghan and the lively Ronan Clarke. propelled them to a 1-5 to 0-3 lead before McConnell narrowed the deficit with a converted free from the last kick of the half.
Needing a fast start to the second-half Castletown fell further behind straight from the throw-in as Mikey O'Reilly surged forward, found Clarke with a good pass, Clarke played a quick one-two with Duggie Dillon before Keelaghan finished the move with a sensational goal.
Keelaghan followed with two more points (one free) and when Kevin Ross and O'Brien traded points to make it 2-8 to 0-5 late in the third quarter there only looked like one winner.
Que the late drama and Mark Kelly's goal, but when all was settled it was O'Mahonys who marched on to the final.
Navan O'Mahonys - Niall Devlin; Darragh Murphy, Brian Dillon, Sean Betson; Sam Formosa, Niall McGrane, Aodhan Mallon (0-2 one frees); Mikey O'Reilly, Darragh Maguire; Ronan Clarke (0-1), Robbie Keelaghan (1-3 one free), Shane Maguire; Oisin O'Brien (1-2), Duggie Dillon (0-1), Ivo Fitzherbert. Subs - Paddy Dillon for Murphy 34m, Conor Finnegan for Fitzherbert 43m, Conor Brady for Keelaghan 49m, Craig Munnelly O'Toole for Clarke 55m, Evan Coffey for D Dillon 58m.
Castletown - Shayne Kely; Killian Smyth, Evan Hoey, Killian Markey; Mark Young, Eoin Reid, Corey Curtis; Killian Price, Rian McConnell (0-3 frees); Darreen Finney, Daragh Kelly (0-1), Adam Wogan; Mark Kelly (1-0), Adam Mathhews (0-1), Declan Cribbin (0-2). Subs - Cillian Oakes for Young half-time, Kevin Ross (0-2 one free) for Wogan 32m.
Referee - Patrick Coyle (Curraha).