Moynalvey made the long midweek journey to North Meath a profitable one when coming away with the two points on offer, running out double score winners in this round 5 encounter of the Div. 2 A League against Meath Hill on Wednesday evening April 27th.
Meath Hill 1-7 Moynalvey 2-14
In the end Moynalvey had a comfortable win over the host side having dominated the score board for the majority of proceedings, however 10 minutes into the second half Junior outfit Meath Hill were causing their Senior opponents plenty of problems having closed the margin between the sides to just the minimum.
Ninety seconds from the half time whistle visitors Moynalvey looked to be heading for the interval with a healthy six point lead, however the home side struck for the first of the game’s three goals, leaving the difference betweenthe sides at the break three points, 1-5 to 1-2.
Moynalvey may well have been out of site at half time, only for the heroics of Meath Hill goalkeeper Dominic Yore denying goal attempts from David McLoughlin, Cillian O’Sullivan and Eamonn Walsh. Home side Meath Hill could well also have been closer to their opponents at the break, having been guilty of several bad wides during the opening period.
The hosts opened the scoring through an Ian Malone free after just 45 seconds; with Moynalvey’s opening score came via the boot of Shane Lenehan in the 3rd minute. Moynalvey were unlucky not to push ahead with Yore quickly closing down a David Mcloughlin goal attempt which went for a ’45 and then a McLoughlin point attempt rebounding off the post. Meath Hill scored their second point of the half with wing back James Rooney firing over in the 9th minute, when perhaps there was a sniff of a goal opportunity.
Meath Hill net minder Yore was called into action once again in the 11th minute when saving well from a rasping effort at goal from Cillian O’Sullivan. Moynalvey drew level in the 13th minute with a close range free from David McLoughlin after O’Sullivan was fouled and then took the lead in the 17th when O’Sullivan this time turned provider for McLoughlin to point.
Home side Meath Hill would fail to register a score again until the 28th minute with a goal from midfielder Damien Turley, which turned out to be the last score of the half. In the interim period Moynalvey added 1-2, with the brace of points coming from James O’Neill and Cillian O’Sullivan, with county player O’Sullivan also bagging the visitors 1st goal, leaving the score board reading 1-5 to 1-2 in favour of Moynalvey at the break.
Within 30 seconds of the restart Moynalvey furthered their advantage to four, with David McLoughlin sending over his third point of the evening. Then it was the turn of the home side to endure their period of dominance, registering an unanswered 0-3 to reduce the deficit to the minimum on the 37th minute mark.
Moynalvey finished the last quarter strongly, outscoring their opponents 1-7 to 0-2. A superb score from an acute angle curled high between the uprights from McLoughlin started the sequence in the 39th minute, followed a minute later by Shane Lenehan palming over the bar when Padraic Harnan unselfishly set up; and then another from Mcloughlin. McLoughlin converted his second free of the game in the 43rd minute after he had fought hard to win possession. Cillian O’Sullivan pointed in the 49th minute, which was followed by a quick fire double from McLoughlin, the first off his right foot and the second off his left, completing his tally of seven points.
Meath Hill’s final score came via a substitute in the 58th minute, with the score board reading 1-13 to 1-7 at this stage. Some gloss was put on the final score line with two late scores from Cillian O’Sullivan, the first a superb point curled in from the left wing, followed by his second goal of the game, an expertly executed goal fired low and hard across the face of goal to the corner of the net, giving Meath Hill goalkeeper Dominic Yore no chance this time.
This 3rd win of the campaign sets Moynalvey up with an opportunity to consolidate their position near the top of the Div. 2 Table, with a round six home tie against Trim fast looming on Saturday evening.
Moynalvey: Conor Egan, Robert Lawless, Cathal McCabe, Darren Brennan, Eamonn Walsh, Stephen Donoghue, Brian Harnan, Donal Smith, Padraic Harnan, Shane Lenehan (0-3), Mark O’Sullivan, Fearghal McCabe, David McLoughlin (0-7, 2f), Cillian O’Sullivan (2-2), James O’Neill (0-1). Subs: Sean Duggan for Lenehan, James Weldon (0-1) for O’Neill, Darragh Branigan for Smith, James Kelly for F. McCabe, Conor Shirren for B. Harnan (B. Card)
