Visitors Donaghmore/Ashbourne had two points to spare over Moynalvey in this Div. 1 A League back game played at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Tuesday evening June 5th.
Moynalvey 0-13
Donaghmore/Ashbourne 1-12
Donaghmore Ashbourne maintained their push for league honours with a hard fought two point win over Moynalvey who are lingering dangerously in the relegation zone, with games quickly running out to pick up much needed points.
Things looked bleak for the home side early on as Donaghmore/Ashbourne had 1-2 scored after just six minutes. James Weldon opened Moynalvey’s account, followed by a brace of David McLoughlin points, with Ciaran Ellis firing over for the Ashbourne, leaving the goal between the sides after 14 minutes, 1-3 to 0-3.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne retook the lead before four unanswered Moynalvey points from McLoughlin (2), the second of which was a perfectly struck free off the ground from way out, followed by Darragh Branigan and Anthony Forde points, levelling matters for the first time in the 23rd minute. Both sides added a point each before half time, Donaghmore Ashbourne’s from an Andrew Tormey free and Moynalvey’s a McLoughlin free, leaving it tied 0-8 to 1-5 at the break.
Fifty seconds after the restart Moynalvey took the lead for the first time when James Weldon split the uprights. Mid way through the second period Moynalvey were three points up with points from the rampaging Anthony Forde (2), the first of which was set up by a superb pass into space by Darren Brennan, a McLoughlin free and a brilliant Shane Lenehan point from an acute angle in response to Donaghmore/Ashbourne frees from Tormey and Paul Gilligan, leaving it 0-13 to 1-7.
Moynalvey failed to score again, with ill-discipline creeping into the game seeing them finish with 14 men, with the dismissal of David McLoughlin having picked up a couple of cards and also Robert Lawless and Donal Smith having to be replaced following black cards.
Without their top scorer McLoughlin and Donaghmore/Ashbourne getting to grips with the menacing Anthony Forde, scores were always going to be hard come by for Moynalvey. While one or two shots went wayward of the posts and a goal chance went a begging Moynalvey failed to build on their second half lead and five Donaghmore/Ashbourne points in the last 10 minutes saw them pip Moynalvey by two points.
Next up for Moynalvey is a local derby against neighbours Summerhill on Sunday evening.
Moynalvey: David Brennan, Fearghal McCabe, Robert Lawless, Brian Harnan, Scott Tuite, Darren Brennan, Anthony Forde (0-3), Donal Smith, John Donoghue, James Weldon (0-2), Stephen Donoghue, Brian O’Reilly, Darragh Branigan (0-1), Shane Lenehan (0-1), David McLoughlin (0-6, 4f).
Subs used: Eamon Walsh for Tuite, Sean Duggan for Branigan, Padraig Kelly for Lawless (B/C), Shaun Deering for Smith (B/C).
