Despite losing out to Dunshaughlin by a goal in this final round Group A game of the Seamus Connolly Catering sponsored Junior ‘B’ Football Championship, Moynalvey advanced to the Quarter Final stage thanks to other results going their way.
Moynalvey 2-8 Dunshaughlin 3-8
The win for Dunshaughlin sees them advance straight to the semi-final stage after topping six team Group A, while St. Mary’s win over Donaghmore/Ashbourne sees Moynalvey secure third place and advance to a Quarter Final meeting with the winners of Group B. Despite being two goals down at the interval a strong second half performance from Moynalvey saw them come within a single score of their opponents at the final whistle.
Dunshaughlin bolted into a 1-3 to 0-0 lead before Moynalvey finally opened their account through a Ciaran Ennis free in the 18th minute. Sixty seconds later things looked even bleaker for Moynalvey as Dunshaughlin found the back of the net for a second time, handing them an eight point advantage, 2-3 to 0-1. In the remaining ten minutes of the opening half Moynalvey posted two points courtesy of Ciaran Ennis and Cathal McCabe, while Dunshaughlin added a further point to their tally, leaving seven points between the sides at the break, 2-4 to 0-3.
A rejuvenated Moynalvey side took to the field after the break and outscored their opponents 2-5 to 1-4 in the second period. Within five minutes of the restart only a goal separated the sides as Ciaran Ennis pointed his second free of the evening before providing the assist for Robbie Quinlan to goal. Just as Moynalvey were building up momentum a third goal for Dunshaughlin in the 38th minute left six between the sides for a third time in the game. Dunshaughlin looked to have put the game out of Moynalvey’s reach in the 48th minute as a trio of points for them with a Brian Conneely effort for Moynalvey sandwiched in between left eight between the sides, 3-7 to 1-5. However Moynalvey never stopped battling and completely outplayed Dunshaughlin in the final 12 minutes outscoring their opponents 1-3 to 0-1, narrowing the deficit to as little as two points. Dunshaughlin’s greater goal scoring power ended up being the difference between the sides as the town team secured victory on a 3-8 to 2-8 score line, ensuring top spot in the group and their passage straight through to a semi-final spot.
Moynalvey: C. Egan, D. Durkan, D. Kane, D. Brannigan, J. Carey, P. Conneely, A. Brien, B. Conneely (0-1), G. Fagan, R. Quinlan (1-0), L. Duffy (0-1), C. McCabe (1-2), C. Ennis (0-4), W. Harnan, C. Collins. Subs: S. Whyte for Durkan, Anthony Donnelly for Carey, B. Dixon for Fagan, Alan Donnelly for Harnan.
