Leahy goal boosts O'Mahonys to safety

Trailing by five points at the break and falling six behind soon after the resumption O'Mahonys produced an excellent second-half display to see off Seneschalstown by 1-12 to 1-10 at Dunshaughlin tonight and preserve their senior status.

Scores were hard to come by in the early stages. With so much at stake players looked nervous and mistakes were bountiful.

Brian Sheridan opened the scoring in the seventh minute and a minute later Conor Finnegan restored parity for O'Mahonys, that was the last time the teams were tied until the 50th minute.

Excellent points from the brilliant Cathal Finnegan and Bryan Clarke edged Seneschalstown into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, but Jake Regan closed the gap to one.

Seneschalstown struck for their goal in the 14th minute with Cathal Finnegan producing a brilliant finish after Dylan Keating's effort had been blocked down.

O Coileain ended a 12-minute barren spell for O'Mahonys with a free, but using the wind to good effect Cathal Finnegan landed a 55-metre free and a booming point from play from a similar distance to ensure a 1-5 to 0-3 interval lead for Seneschalstown.

Cathal Finnegan extended that lead to six points 90 seconds after the restart, but then O'Mahonys hit their straps with the benefit of the wind.

Evan Coffey landed a '45' and in the 37th minute Leahy pointed to make it 0-5 to 1-6.

Duggie Dillon poked a goal chance wide and three minutes later Darragh Maguire produced a stunning goal line clearance to deny Keating a goal for Seneschalstown.

That let-off boosted O'Mahonys again with O Coileain landing a free before Dillon, O Coileain and Regan all kicked superb scores to level the game, 0-9 to 1-6, with 11 minutes remaining.

Clarke kicked a huge free agianst the wind to restore Seneschalstown's lead, but after O Coileain kicked another glorious point to level the game again, Leahy pounced on Dillon's centre for an O'Mahonys goal to make it 1-10 to 1-7 with seven minutes remaining.

Collie Carr recovered from a heavy challenge to close the gap for Seneschalstown, but O Coileain and Dillon found their range from distance again to put four points between the sides two minutes into injury-time.

With referee Keith Sheerin playing eight minutes of added time Seneschalstown went in search of a second goal. Alan Mulvany and Clarke (free) took their points when they were presented, but the goal never came as O'Mahonys held on to preserve their senior status.

SCORERS

Navan O'Mahonys – Ruairi O Coileain 0-5 two frees; Paddy Leahy 1-1; Jake Regan 0-2; Duggie Dillon 0-2; Evan Coffey 0-1 '45'; Conor Finnegan 0-1.

Seneschalstown – Cathal Finnegan 1-4 one free; Bryan Clarke 0-3 two frees; Brian Sheridan 0-1 free; Collie Carr 0-1; Alan Mulvany 0-1.

TEAMS

Navan O'Mahonys – Mark Brennan; Mike O'Reilly, Niall McKeigue, Niall McGrane; Darragh Maguire, Kevin Reilly, Aodhan Mallon; Conor Finnegan, Evan Coffey; Duggie Dillon, Ruairi O Coileain, Alan Forde; Jake Regan, Brian O'Hanlon, Cathal Smyth. Subs – Paddy Leahy for Reilly 3 mins, Eoin Joyce for Mallon 50m, Stephen Bray for O'Hanlon 59m.

Seneschalstown – David Lyons; Woodley Nicholson, Niall Hickey, Simon Rooney; Adam Carey, Collie Carr, Ronan Conneely; Brian Sheridan, Cathal Hickey; Dylan Keating, Cathal Finnegan, Alan Mulvany; Eoin Finnegan, Bryan Clarke, Johnny Gilsenan. Subs – Stephen Finnegan for Sheridan 19 mins, Joe Moore for Gilsenan 45m,

Referee – Keith Sheerin (Drumconrath).