Ratoath had eight points to spare over Moynalvey in round one of the Feis Cup played at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Saturday afternoon January 25th.
Moynalvey 0-12
Ratoath 2-14
Welcomed onto the field by a guard of honour from the home side it was the county champions who opened the brighter of the two sides racking up an early five point lead. Two points were followed by a penalty for the visitors before Moynalvey’s top scorer Mark O’Sullivan opened his side’s account, leaving it 1-2 to 0-1 after thirteen minutes.
A trio of Moynalvey points from James Weldon, Mark O’Sullivan and Adam Murphy narrowed the margin to a point, 1-2 to 0-4, however this proved to be as close as Moynalvey would come to their opponents.
Conall Aherne and Conor Rooney points for Ratoath either side of a Mark O’Sullivan free left the goal between the sides with O’Sullivan adding another free before the half time whistle to leave it 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.
Seven points without reply in the first twelve minutes of the second half essentially put the game to bed as Ratoath pushed their advantage out to nine points in the third quarter.
James Weldon registered his side’s first score of the second half in the 43rd minute, countered four minutes later by a Conor Rooney free for Ratoath. Two O’Sullivan frees and a point which ricocheted off the cross bar from substitute David McLoughlin left it 1-13 to 0-10 with eight minutes remaining.
A Padraic Byrne point followed by a Cian O’Brien goal saw Ratoath’s advantage extended to double scores, with two late Mark O’Sullivan frees for the home side leaving the full time score 2-14 to 0-12 in favour of the county champions.
Next up for Moynalvey is a round two tie away to St. Colmcilles on Thursday night.
Moynalvey team & scorers:
Ray Ryan, Conor Harnan, Robert Lawless, Cathal McCabe, William Mahady, Brian Harnan, Shane Lenehan, Adam Murphy (0-1), Donal Smith, Ciaran Harnan, Stephen Donoghue, Padraig Kelly, James Weldon (0-2), Mark O’Sullivan (0-8), Shaun Deering.
Subs: Sean Duggan for Kelly, Conor Shirren for Lenehan, Paul Corcoran for Ciaran Harnan, David McLoughlin (0-1) for Deering, Eoin Corrigan for Smith.
