Kickhams hang on for win

COOLEY KICKHAMS SEAN O’MAHONYS 0-7 0-6

DESPITE not scoring a single point in the second half Cooley managed to claim a narrow victory which keeps alive their hopes of a top four finish.

The O’Mahonys have been in good form in recent weeks but they were slow out of the blocks against the home side not managing a score until the 20th minute. Remarkably that point left the O’Mahonys just a point behind in what was a low scoring start to the match.

Cooley began to take control during the final ten minutes of the first half scoring five points in succession with Ciaran Sheelan proving a particular menace to the Dundalk side scoring three points.

Conor Crawley had the final say of a disappointing first period for the O’Mahonys by sending over a long range point to leave the scoreboard reading 0-7 to 0-2 in favour of Cooley at the break.

Chances continued to be missed by both sides early in the second half before the O’Mahonys finally troubled the umpires with a fine Barry Mackin point midway through the second period.

Mackin reduced Cooley’s lead to three points as he pointed again with ten minutes remaining.

Cooley may have been struggling to trouble the scoreboard in the second half but their defence remained solid and the O’Mahonys were struggling to create any real goal chances.

Late points from Keith McLoughlin and Stephen Fisher made it four in a row for the away side but try as they might the O’Mahonys just couldn’t conjure up an equalising score and it was the men from Cooley who picked up a very valuable two points, leaving the race for fourth spot wide open.