The concession of three first half goals ultimately proved crucial in Moynalvey going down to Wolfe Tones by six points in this Div. 1 Round 1 game played at Moynalvey on Sunday morning 19th February.
Moynalvey 1-14 Wolfe Tones 4-11
These two teams contested the final round group C game of the Senior Championship last year with Moynalvey coming out on top that day by 5 points, this time the result was reversed in favour of the Kilberry side.
Moynalvey took the lead in the 2nd minute when James O’Neill sent over the 1st of his 10 point haul, this one from the outside of the boot on the right wing! Cian Ward levelled matters from a ’45 three minutes later. Further Moynalvey points from an O’Neill free and Stephen Donoghue pushed Moynalvey into a 0-3 to 0-1 advantage after 10 minutes.
The visitors then hit 3-2 without reply between the 11th and 19th minutes to hand them a nine point lead, 3-3 to 0-3. A second point from Moynalvey midfielder Stephen Donoghue put a stop to this Tones’ purple patch, then Moynalvey were unlucky not to raise a green flag of their own when first Shane Lenehan was denied by Trevor Browne, and a fisted effort from the rebound by Padraic Harnan also saved by the ‘keeper.
Moynalvey full forward James O’Neill converted two frees before half time with his No. 14 counter part Stephen Sheppard pointing for Tones, to leave the Half time score reading 3-4 to 0-6 in favour of Tony Kearney’s men.
Moynalvey started the second half with a converted free from James O’Neill two minutes after the restart to narrow the deficit to six points. But the Tones then hit 0-7 without reply, five of which came from the exceptional Cian Ward to leave Moynalvey facing a collosal twelve point margin to claw back with a quarter of an hour remaining.
A couple of goal chances came Moynalvey’s way, but a combination of poor finishing & shot stopping from Trevor Browne thwarted them, until eventually a breaking ball was fisted to the net by Darren Brennan for Moynalvey’s only goal in the 50th minute.
Just as Moynalvey were building momentum a goal chance fell to Padraic Harnan, only to be excellently blocked down by the Tones defence. Moynalvey did add further points from James O’Neill & Shane Lenehan, leaving seven between the sides with eight minutes remaining. But the final nail was put in the coffin, when a Tones break up the field resulted in their 4th green flag to kill of hope of any Moynalvey comeback.
Three James O’Neill frees and a point from Brian O’Reilly left six between the sides at the final whistle on a score line of 4-11 to 1-14.
Moynalvey: C. Egan, D. Brennan (1-0), B. O’Reilly (0-1), S. Tuite, E. Walsh, P. Harnan, D. Branigan, D. Smith, S. Donoghue (0-2), S. Lenehan (0-1), J. Donoghue, A. Murphy, J. Weldon, J. O’Neill (0-10, 8f), C. Shirren.
Subs: S. Duggan for Shirren
