MEATH SFC FINALNavan O'Mahony's 2-12 Summerhill 0-7:IT WAS third time lucky for hot favourites Navan O'Mahony's as they atoned for the disappointment of losing the previous two Meath finals to take the title for the 17th time in a one-sided decider at Páirc Tailteann yesterday.
After losing out to Wolfe Tones and Seneschalstown in the last two years, there was to be no slip-up as they were well on the way to victory when leading by 2-3 to 0-3 after 20 minutes.
After being so impressive in their semi-final against Wolfe Tones, Summerhill, appearing in the final for the first time since 1990, were a big let-down with none of their starting forwards managing a score from play. They managed to hold their own only in the opening 10 minutes and were unable to contain the Navan attack in which the Bray brothers, 2007 All Star Stephen, and David, played starring roles.
David picked up the man-of-the-match award after scoring 1-3 and his goal came on 12 minutes with the corner forward applying the finishing touch after Stephen's shot came back off an upright.
That left the scores 1-3 to 0-2 with Summerhill only able to get their noses in front for a brief spell when Stephen Kennedy landed a free in the opening minute. They were struggling all over the pitch. The second goal came from a penalty awarded when O'Mahony's captain Paddy Smyth was taken down by goalkeeper Tony McDonnell after being set up by Stephen Bray and Henry Finnegan made no mistake. Apart from that conversion, all of the O'Mahony's scores came from play, and they led 2-5 to 0-5 at the break.
Barry Regan, who shot three points, overshadowed his midfield partner and countyman Mark Ward, and with Meath players Kevin Reilly and Niall McKeigue defending very well, O'Mahony's did not let up.
The team, jointly managed by Seán Kelly and Seán Barry, were determined to take the title for the first time since 1997 and points from the two Brays and Regan in the opening seven minutes after the restart made the odds on them shorten even more.
Meanwhile, former All-Ireland winners Mattie Kerrigan and Paraic Lyons could only look on as their charges continued to be outplayed.
After Michael Gorman gave Summerhill a flicker of hope on 39 minutes, they did not register again until added time. The losers were denied a consolation goal when Mark Brennan saved brilliantly from Rory Donnelly near the end.
NAVAN O'MAHONY'S: M Brennan; D Moran, K Reilly, N McKeigue; S O'Toole, C McGuinness, S MacGabhann; B Regan (0-3), M Ward; L Russell (0-1), S Bray (0-3), H Finnegan (1-2, goal pen); D Bray (1-3), P Smyth, S Keating. Subs: S McKeigue for Russell 36 mins, G O'Brien for Keating 43 mins, C Reilly for Moran 53 mins, S Crosby for Ward 56 mins, D Murtagh for D Bray 58 mins.
SUMMERHILL: T McDonnell; P Rispin (0-1), G Rispin, A Kenny; M Gorman (0-1), B Ennis, C Malone; M Kennedy, C Gillespie (0-1); M Byrne (0-1, free), M O'Reilly, P Larkin; B Lyons, R Donnelly, S Kennedy (0-3, three frees). Subs: D Dalton for Byrne 21 mins, W Milner for G Rispin half-time, A Lyons for B Lyons 45 mins, J Loughrey for Malone 57 mins.
Referee: C Reilly(St Mary's).
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