Moynalvey lost out to neighbours Blackhall Gaels by five points in this Division 2 reserve league game played in Dunganny on Thursday night April 4th.
Moynalvey 3-5 Blackhall Gaels 3-10
While Moynalvey suffered defeat in what was their first game in the 2013 B League, Blackhall Gaels remain unbeaten on four points after defeating Dunderry in the opening round. As the old cliché of “a game of two halves” goes, this game literally was.
The Batterstown/Kilcloon combination side were completely rampant in the opening half, clocking up a 10 point half time lead, 2-5 to 0-1. Moynalvey’s sole score of the opening period arrived in the final minute of the half from midfielder Brian Conneely.
Determined to restore some pride in the maroon and white jersey, Moynalvey responded to the challenge, outscoring their opponents 3-4 to 1-5 in the second half. Two Ray Ryan points soon after the restart left eight between the sides. Blackhall added 0-2 to their tally before Brian Conneely sent over his second point of the game in the 43rd minute. The game looked to have completely slipped from Moynalvey’s grasp when Blackhall fired home their third goal in the 45th minute, giving them a commanding 12 point lead.
However Moynalvey failed to accept defeat and rallied hard in the final quarter. Ray Ryan began the revival when he tapped into an open goal after Ciaran Ennis’ initial effort was saved. A second Moynalvey goal in the 51st minute from the hard working Darren Brennan, along with a point from Anthony Brien narrowed the deficit to five points, 3-7 to 2-5. Two minutes later Ciaran Ennis raised the 6th green flag of the game, leaving only two points between the sides with seven minutes remaining. Blackhall finished the game the stronger of the two sides, sending over a further three points and denting any hopes of a miraculous Moynalvey comeback.
Moynalvey: G. Drum, B. Byrne, P. Donoghue, S. Whyte, D. Durkan, A. Brien (0-1), D. Branigan, B. Conneely (0-2), D. Smith, R. Ryan (1-2), D. Brennan (1-0), F. McCabe, C. Ennis (1-0), C. Collins, A. Donnelly.
Subs: C. Egan for Durkan, S. Deering for McCabe, J. Munnelly for Donnelly.
