Navan O'Mahony's 1-11 Wolfe Tones 0-7:AN IMPRESSIVE first-half display helped Navan O'Mahonys to an 18th Meath senior football title triumph as they reversed the 2006 final result with a double-scores victory over Wolfe Tones at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.
The town team got away to a flying start with Shane Gillespie firing to the net inside 30 seconds of the throw-in and they built on that to lead by five points (1-6 to 0-4) at the break despite playing against the breeze.
O’Mahonys’ success was built around solid teamwork with their players in possession being well supported and their opponents not allowed much time on the ball.
Although taking 13 minutes to register in the second half, stern defending kept Wolfe Tones at bay as they tried to eat into the deficit.
The Navan side had to cope without the influential pair of countymen, Kevin Reilly and Mark Ward over the last few months but some of their younger players have come of age.
Gillespie, who only came on as a substitute in their narrow semi-final win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne, was one of those, turning in a man of the match performance.
The Tones rearguard was exposed in that opening attack with Jake Regan and Alan Forde involved in the build-up before Gillespie fired past goalkeeper David Nolan.
But there was a prompt recovery with Cian Ward converting a brace of frees before O’Mahonys put over the next four scores to forge ahead.
Winning manager David Nelson, who guided O’Mahonys to a title triumph back in 1997, said: “We had set out to get away to a good start and getting a goal at such an early stage was like a dream. Then we did well to add six points while playing against the elements.
“The strength in depth of our panel was shown when we could win the championship without key men like Kevin Reilly and Mark Ward while other players were also troubled by injuries during the year.”
“With Niall McKeigue showing up so well at the back, Cian Ward was well contained. Our backs did not give a lot away but overall it was a fine team effort with the older players blending well with the younger lads.”
With Stephen Bray and Jake Regan showing slick skills in attack, the foundations for a first county title in four years were being firmly laid.
At the other end of the pitch veteran Niall McKeigue was doing well in his marking of Tones danger man Ward.
The county forward came close to netting a Mikey Sheehy-like goal after 24 minutes. O’Mahonys keeper and captain Marcus Brennan lost possession when attempting to clear and pulled down Ward, who sent a quick free just past the right hand upright.
The favourites recovered from that let-off with two points from Regan, from a free awarded on himself, and then a sweet effort from play following a Bray pass.
Tones finished the first period with a long range effort by Ward, his only score from play.
Tones resumed with all guns blazing but, despite an amount of pressure, could only manage a converted Ward free, in the third quarter.
Gillespie settled O’Mahonys with a spectacular effort from the left sideline and they went on to finish strongly with Stephen Bray adding two late points as well as setting up brother David, who was returning after injury, to get on target shortly after joining the action.
Now O’Mahonys boss Nelson would like to improve on the poor performances by Meath sides in the Leinster club senior championship over the last few years.
“Meath sides haven’t been doing well in it lately and I also have unhappy memories of my times as a player. Hopefully we can lift ourselves for a strong showing,” he said.
NAVAN O’MAHONY’S: M Brennan; S O’Toole, N McKeigue, I Matthews; G O’Brien, S Crosby, B Dillon; C McGuinness, D Moran; P Smyth, A Forde, S Gillespie (1-1); J Regan (0-3, one free), S Bray (0-5, two frees), S MacGabhann (0-1). Subs: B Regan for McGuinness (35 mins), H Finnegan for MacGabhann (41 mins), D Bray (0-1) for J Regan (51 mins), D Maguire for Forde (55 minutes), D Murtagh for Smyth (60 mins).
WOLFE TONES: D Nolan; R Brady, C McLoughlin, D Coleman; N McLoughlin, E Harrington (0-1), S Glynn; S Corrigan, A Callaghan; A Fox, S Sheppard (0-1), M Coleman; D McGrath, C Ward (0-5, four frees), F Ward. Subs: A McKeown for D Coleman (28 mins), P Byrne for McGrath (half-time), C Blaney for M Coleman (41 mins), P Caffrey for Callaghan (48 mins).
Referee: D Coldrick (Blackhall Gaels).
