Home side Dunboyne held out for a three point win over visitors Moynalvey in this A League third round game played on the castle pitch at Dunboyne on Sunday morning February 10th.
St. Peters Dunboyne 3-10
Moynalvey 2-10
Trailing by 10 points at half time, Moynalvey looked to be in for another heavy defeat following their 2nd round loss to Navan O’Mahonys.
However, a much improved second half saw the James Weldon inspired visitors close the gap to two points, with a gilt edge goal chance missed in the dying minutes meaning Moynalvey were unlucky not to take something from the game.
For the second week in succession St. Peters Dunboyne came close to letting an eleven point lead slip. Last week they were made pay by Oldcastle, while today they just held out against Moynalvey to make amends for last week’s loss.
The home side opened the scoring in the 1st minute, with Moynalvey replying with Shane Lenehan and Padraic Harnan points to take the lead for the first and only time.
1-3 from Dunboyne without reply, two Robbie McCarthy points and one from Michael Dunne along with a somewhat fortuitous goal from McCarthy, when the sun offset Moynalvey goal keeper Ray Ryan to spill McCarthy’s speculative point attempt from out the field over the line.
Padraic Harnan fired over a free in the 26th minute for his side’s third point. Inspired by the game’s top scorer McCarthy St. Peters’ reeled off another 1-3 to lead by 10 points at half time, 2-7 to 0-3.
Moynalvey could not have responded better after the restart, as half time substitute Cathal McCabe and Padraic Harnan set up Shane Lenehan to bundle the ball to the net from close range.
Dunboyne hit back with 1-1 before the two number 13’s, Dunboyne’s Robbie McCarthy and Moynalvey’s James Weldon traded points to leave the score 3-9 to 1-4 thirteen minutes into the half.
Dunboyne failed to score again from this point until the 30th minute. In this time Moynalvey clocked up 1-6 without reply and but for some wild shooting and that goal chance going a begging were unlucky not to pick something up from this tie.
The 1-6 in that period came from James Weldon (3), Padraic Harnan (2), Donal Smith and the goal from 17 year old Ciaran Harnan playing just his second game of adult football. Robbie McCarthy scored his side’s 10th point in the 60th minute to leave the final score read 3-10 to 2-10 to St. Peters.
As the cliché goes – a game of two halves, with plenty for Moynalvey to take forward from their second half performance to their fourth round clash with Dunshaughlin.
Best for Moynalvey were Robert Lawless, Stephen Donoghue, Brian Harnan, Padraic Harnan and James Weldon.
Moynalvey:
Ray Ryan, Scott Tuite, Robert Lawless, David Donoghue, Stephen Donoghue, Brian Harnan, William Mahady, Donal Smith (1f), Padraic Harnan (0-4, 3f), Padraig Kelly, Fearghal McCabe, Shane Lenehan (1-1), James Weldon (0-4, 1f), Sean Duggan, Ciaran Harnan (1-0).
Subs used: Cathal McCabe for Duggan, Darragh Branigan for Tuite.
