Moynalvey suffered their third defeat of 2016 A League campaign when going down by a two point margin in this final round game of the Div. 2 A League played at Kilmore Park Moynalvey on Sunday afternoon 11th September.
Moynalvey 3-9 Ratoath 3-11
In effect this game was only to decide final league placings and another competitive game prior to the final round of group games in the Senior Championship, as Moynalvey had already qualified for the League Final while Ratoath were mid table. Moynalvey’s loss combined with Rathkenny’s win over Meath Hill saw Moynalvey finish the league campaign in second place, with an upcoming League Final against Rathkenny to come. The visitors were first off the mark with a score as early as 10 seconds into the game with midfielder Cian O’Brien splitting the uprights, three minutes later they doubled their advantage when Joey Wallace pointed. Moynalvey’s first score came from the penalty spot when Brian O’Reilly was bundled over; Mark O’Sullivan stepped forward to convert the penalty. O’Sullivan added two points from play, the first with the outside of the boot and the second after combining with his brother Cillian to leave it 1-2 to 0-3 after 13 minutes.
Ratoath’s Conor Rooney traded scores with Dan Treacy of Moynalvey; the sides were level when the game’s second green flag was raised, this time in Ratoath’s favour. However Moynalvey responded with a goal of their own within ninety seconds of this set back, an excellent ball in from Darragh Branigan to Mark O’Sullivan was quickly offloaded his brother Cillian who finished to the net. A third goal in a row arrived in the 25th minute when despite spilling possession Cian O’Brien managed to volley past Moynalvey goalkeeper Conor Egan, leaving the sides tied once again, 2-3 apiece. Two Mark O’Sullivan frees before half time handed Moynalvey a two point advantage at the break.
Three minutes after the restart Ratoath scored the game’s fifth goal when a high ball in broke with Bobby O’Brien setting up Eamonn Wallace to finish from close range. Sixty seconds later Ratoath extended their advantage with a Joey Wallace point. Moynalvey scores from Mark O’Sullivan and Shane Lenehan reduced the deficit, but four unanswered Ratoath points extended the visitor’s advantage to four, 3-8 to 2-7, with 49 minutes played.
Keith McCabe pointed in reply to a Mark O’Sullivan free, before undoubtedly the best goal of the game’s six goals arrived in the 55th minute, when Moynalvey midfielder Stephen Donoghue unleashed a fierce drive to the corner of Ratoath ‘keeper Jack O’Sullivan’s net. A free from Mark O’Sullivan followed, leaving the sides tied for a fourth time with two minutes remaining, 3-9 apiece. Two points from Ratoath’s Bobby O’Brien and Eamonn Wallace secured the two points on offer.
Moynalvey: Conor Egan, Robert Lawless, Cathal McCabe, Anthony Forde, Eamonn Walsh, Brian Harnan, Darragh Branigan, Stephen Donoghue (1-0), Donal Smith, Cillian O’Sullivan (1-0), Dan Treacy (0-1), Brian O’Reilly, Shane Lenehan (0-1), Mark O’Sullivan (1-7, 1p, 5f), Conor Harnan.
Subs: Paul Conneely for Smith, David Donoghue for Lawless, James O’Neill for Treacy.
