Mattock Rangers Claim Top Spot With Victory Over Sean O’Mahonys

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Group 4 Round 2

At Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdalshill

Mattock Rangers 2-14 Sean O’Mahonys 1-14

Mattock Rangers secured top spot of the much-discussed ‘Group of Death’ in the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Group 4 after edging out Sean O’Mahonys by three points at Dowdalshill on Sunday evening.

Having narrowly overcome neighbours St Kevins last weekend, Gus Flynn’s side once again showed plenty of composure and game management when it mattered most, recovering from a half-time deficit to finish strongly and secure a second consecutive victory.

Mattock made the better start, with Jack Thompson opening the scoring before Kayden Fisher responded with two frees for O’Mahonys. Oisin McKenna and Rob Holmes kept Mattock ticking over, while Dauda JR Shotayo and Brian McGuirk replied for the Point Road side as O’Mahonys edged 0-4 to 0-3 ahead after ten minutes.

The game then went quiet for a spell before Mattock captain Ben McKenna broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion, ghosting through to find the net and put his side two points clear.

Brian McGuirk of Sean O’Mahonys evades Jack Thompson of Mattock Rangers

O’Mahonys responded impressively. Thomas Rice and Stephen Kilcoyne found the target before the lively Brian McGuirk produced an excellent piece of play to fire home O’Mahonys’ goal in the 25th minute.

Kilcoyne added another point before the interval, leaving Mattock facing a 1-7 to 1-3 deficit at half-time.

The second half belonged to Mattock, however, as they steadily clawed their way back into contention. McGuirk opened the scoring after the restart, but McKenna replied from a free before Sean Flynn and Cathal Fleming reduced the gap further.

McKenna then struck major again, finishing neatly for his second goal of the evening to put Mattock in front with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Daire Englishby, Mattock Rangers and Thomas Rice, Sean O’Mahonys compete for an aerial ball

From there, the sides traded scores in an increasingly tense contest. Adrian Reid and Aaron Mackin exchanged points before Flynn added another for Mattock. O’Mahonys responded through a superb two-point free from Eddie Maguire, while Fleming and McKenna continued to find the target at the other end.

Brendan Lacey made an immediate impact from the bench with a point, while Kayden Fisher and Fleming exchanged further scores. Conor Finnegan then landed a two-pointer for O’Mahonys to keep the contest alive.

But Mattock held their nerve in the closing stages, with Sean Flynn converting a late free to complete a hard-earned 2-14 to 1-14 victory.

The result sees Mattock Rangers take top spot in Group 4, while the Sean Flynn’s final point could prove particularly significant for the wider group permutations, giving St Kevins the superior score difference should they and Sean O’Mahonys finish in a draw next Monday.

Man of the Match – Ben McKenna (Mattock Rangers) 

Mattock Rangers team: Stephen Smith; Rian Hickey, Shane Maguire, Ben Quaile; Terry Donegan, Daire Englishby, Tom Grimes; Jason Condon, Rob Holmes (0-1); Cathal Fleming (0-3, 2f), Ben McKenna (2-3, 1tpf, 1f), Jack Thompson (0-1); Oisin McKenna (0-1), Sean Flynn (0-3, 1f), Ben Watters.

Subs: Adrian Reid (0-1) for Daire Englihby 35 mins, Brendan Lacey (0-1) for Tom Grimes 55 mins.

Sean O’Mahonys team: Eddie Maguire (0-2, 1tpf); Robert Galligan, Kian McEvoy, Ciaran Redmond; Brian McGuirk (1-2), Tiarnan Cassidy, Oisin Breen; Gareth Hall, Sean Cassidy; Aaron Mackin (0-1), Thomas Rice (0-1), Mark Agnew; Stephen Kilcoyne (0-2, 1f), Dauda JR Shotayo (0-1), Kayden Fisher (0-3, 2f).

Subs: Conor Finnegan (0-2, 1tp) for Mark Agnew 39 mins, Daniel Crawley for Stephen Kilcoyne 55 mins.

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan

Sean Flynn (Mattock Rangers)