A solitary point was the difference as Curraha preserved their 2024 senior status with this 1-10 to 2-6 win over Moynalvey at Dunshaughlin on Sunday afternoon September 10th.
A case of Quarter Finalists last year, Relegation Quarter-Finalists this year for Moynalvey!
It was a James McEntee less Curraha who preserved their senior status for 2024 at the first time of asking when overcoming Moynalvey by a point in this relegation quarter final playoff game played at Dunshaughlin at midday on Sunday afternoon 10th September, athough not without a late contentious decision.
Two clubs with the thinnest of panels competing in the senior ranks, both of which many had as candidates for relegation were drawn against each other in the first round of the dreaded relegation battle, unfortunately it’s Moynalvey who will face another day out after this one point defeat.
In what could be described as a game of two halves, Moynalvey nearly pulled off what looked like the impossible having been seven points down at the break and eight down seven minutes into the second half.
The first two scores of the game came from county players Diarmuid Moriarty and Cillian O’Sullivan, both converting frees for their respective sides.
The game’s first point from play came from Conor Moriarty, which was quickly followed by another county player Jack O’Conor splitting the uprights, leaving it 0-3 to 0-1 with nine minutes played.
Moynalvey talisman Cillian O’Sullivan pointed in the 11th minute, with Curraha’s Ronan Flynn pointing two minutes later to leave it double scores, 0-4 to 0-2 with thirteen minutes played.
Two Diarmuid Moriarty points, the first from a free and the second from play were countered by a brace of Moynalvey points, the first a Cillian O’Sullivan point from play and the second a David McLoughlìn free to leave it 0-6 to 0-4 with 22 minutes played.
Then disaster struck for Moynalvey when Curraha wing back Niall Murphy’s shot at goal was dragging well wide low across the goal mouth only for it to be unfortunately deflected to the Moynalvey net by David Reilly, which saw Curraha go five points up, 1-6 to 0-4.
Curraha built on this piece of luck by adding a further brace of points from Diarmuid Moriarty and Jack O’Connor to lead 1-8 to 0-4 at half time.
Eight minutes after the resumption Curraha found themselves eight points up following Diarmuid Moriarty’s fourth free of the afternoon.
As the heavy showers before and during half time cleared, Moynalvey’s running game yielded two goals within the next six minutes, the first from Cillian O’Sullivan and the second coming from Darren Brennan who blasted high to the roof of the Curraha net, now leaving two between the sides at the three quarter hour mark, 1-9 to 2-4.
Brilliant fielding from Moynalvey substitute William Harnan ended with a tap over point for David McLoughlin to leave a single point between the sides with 49 minutes played, 1-9 to 2-5.
Following a long delay with an injury to Curraha’s Niall Murphy after a heavy tackle on Cillian O’Sullivan, the resultant free from O’Sullivan in the 66th minute saw a contentious decision in which neither umpires, nor referee could decide if the ball was over the bar or wide, following much uncertainty and further consultation with the linesman also, the free was eventually given as wide to the despair of Moynalvey supporters and players alike, had the point been given extra time looked on the cards.
There was still time for one more play in which Moynalvey won possession, soon afterwards Brian Harnan’s ball across in the goal mouth was blown for a free out and full time to the delight of all associated with Curraha who preserve their senior status for another year, while Moynalvey now face into a relegation semi-final against St. Peters Dunboyne in a fortnight’s time..
Despite dominating the second half, ultimately that eight point deficit proved too big for Moynalvey to reel in and the ‘Ha held on for that hard earned one point win which sees them safe again in the senior ranks for 2024.
Best for Moynalvey in this battle were David Reilly, Craig Gilsenan, Brian Harnan, Darren Brennan and top scorer Cillian O’Sullivan.
Moynalvey team & scorers:
Conor Egan, David Reilly, Fearghal McCabe, Darragh Branigan, Brian Harnan, Mark O’Sullivan, Charlie McCormack, Stephen Donoghue, Donal Smith, Craig Gilsenan, Padraic Harnan, Vinny Walsh, Darren Brennan (1-0), Cillian O’Sullivan (1-4, 1f), David McLoughlin (0-2, 1f).
Subs used: William Harnan for McCormack, Conor Quinn for Branigan.
