Moynalvey suffered disappointment for the second year running in the Ladies Junior A Championship Final, this year at the hands of Walterstown on a 2-12 to 0-6 score line at Simonstown on Sunday afternoon 15th October.
Moynalvey 0-6
Walterstown 2-12
Last year it was a four point final loss to St. Ultans after extra time, this year it was a comprehensive defeat for the girls in maroon who suffer the bitter pill of defeat in the final for the second year running.
These two teams are familiar foes meeting regular in both league and championship over the past few years with little ever separating them. But today, it was Walterstown who turned in a brilliant second half performance to power home and deservedly win this year’s Junior A Championship.
Although Moynalvey will rue several first half wides and missed goal chances, they can have no complaints as the Blacks completely dominated the second half, outscoring their opponents 2-5 to 0-2.
Little separated the sides for a lot of this contest, until the fifth minute of the second half when Walterstown put clear daylight between the sides when the player of the match Leticia Sheridan-Seery fired to the Moynalvey net to push the Blacks five points in front. They built on this momentum to put in a powerful final twenty minutes to outscore Moynalvey 1-4 to no score.
It was Walterstown who raced into an early three point lead with points from Lisa O’Neill, Leticia- Sheridan-Seery and Jennifer Lynch. Moynalvey opened their account in the 8th minute with a Jennifer McLoughlin free.
Lisa O’Neill pointed a free with Moynalvey replying with a Jennifer McLoughlin point to leave it 0-4 to 0-2 with twelve minutes gone. It was then Moynalvey skewed two goal chances, Louise Donoghue’s drive at goal coming back off the post and Oliva O’Halloran firing another goal opportunity wide of the uprights.
Walterstown points from Leticia Sheridan-Seery and Katie McCarthy put them four points to the good with ninety seconds of the first half remaining, 0-6 to 0-2.
A pair of Louise Donoghue points, the first from play and the second from a free had the margin back to two points, 0-6 to 0-4, but Walterstown’s Lisa O’Neill added her third free of the afternoon three minutes into added time to give Joey Farrelly’s side a 0-7 to 0-4 half time lead.
But for some wayward free taking and those couple of goal chances it could well have been Moynalvey who were heading for the dressing rooms leading at half time. 
Early in the second half Moynalvey narrowed the deficit to two points twice with points from Jennifer McLoughlin and Cheyenne O’Brien either side of a Jennifer Lynch score for Walterstown, leaving it 0-8 to 0-6 after five minutes of the second half.
Moynalvey couldn’t reduce the margin any further and then came that Leticia Sheridan-Seery goal in the 7th minute of the half, which ignited Walterstown to move up another gear and completely dominate the final 20 minutes.
A further four points from the game’s top scorer Lisa O’Neill and a second Walterstown goal from Aine Downes just before the full-time whistle ensured the comprehensive twelve point victory for Walterstown on a 2-12 to 0-6 score line.
Tough on for the Moynalvey girls for the second year in a row and a tough week for Moynalvey with the U-15 boys losing their final Wednesday night and the men being relegated last Sunday!
Following the game Meath Ladies County board chairperson Colm McManus presented Waltertown’s Leticia Sheridan-Seery with the player of the match, while captain Molly Browne was presented with the cup to the delight of the large Walterstown following.
Although today wasn’t her day, she has played a leading role all year, we wish Moynalvey captain Cheyenne and her partner Conor all the best as they head off on their travels tomorrow!
Moynalvey team & scorers:
Aoibheann Corcoran, Mairead McCabe, Abbie Killalea, Bridgie Brennan, Stephanie Walsh, Aideen Smith, Aoife Weston, Clodagh Murphy, Cheyenne O’Brien, Rachel Garrett (0-1), Louise Donoghue (0-2, 1f), Olivia O’Halloran, Fia O’Brien, Jennifer McLoughlin (0-3, 1f), Roisin Murphy.
Subs used: Ashling McLoughlin for R. Murphy, Ciara Mallee for Walsh.
Moynalvey Ladies Panel – Before 2023 Junior A Championship Final
