Moynalvey picked up their first win of the B League when overcoming Duleek/Bellewstown by three goals at Moynalvey on Wednesday evening June 5th.
Moynalvey 3-17
Duleek/Bellewstown 0-17
With three games remaining, Moynalvey’s first win of the campaign gives them a fighting chance of escaping the current relegation position they sit in.
Only coming off the bench due to returning from injury in Moynalvey’s SFC opening round win over Rathkenny, Moynalvey had the luxury of calling on David McLoughlin for this B League game. By the time Duleek/Bellewstown registered their first score in the 6th minute the Moynalvey attacker already had his side’s opening four points to his name. Another hat trick of McLoughlin points and one from Brian Conneely left it 0-8 to 0-1 to the home side eleven minutes in.
The visitors then got a foot hold in the game and points from Steven Nolan (3), Cian Kelly (2) and Seán Maguire, with a James O’Neill point for Moynalvey in response, had the margin between the sides reduced to two points with 24 minutes played, 0-9 to 0-7.
Then a fortuitous break saw the ball fumble across Duleek/Bellewstown’s Finn Hartford’s goal line for the first of Moynalvey’s three goals. This was followed two minutes later by another goal, this time David McLoughlin finding the Duleek/Bellewstown net. The two late first half goals left Moynalvey 2-9 to 0-7 up at half time.
Another Duleek/Bellewstown rally in the third quarter had the half time deficit reduced with points from Steven Nolan (2), Seán Maguire, Michael Dowling and Cianán Byrne, with Moynalvey responding with a James O’Neill free leaving the score 2-10 to 0-12.
Having already lost veteran John Donoghue to injury just before half time, Moynalvey further lost Scott Tuite to a nasty injury nine minutes into the second half. After a lengthy stoppage, Brian Conneely pointed and then having been substituted at half time Darragh Branigan found himself back on the field as Tuite’s replacement sending over a point, leaving the two goals between the sides at the three-quarter mark, 2-12 to 0-12.
With 14 minutes remaining, Brannigan’s half time replacement Ciaran Harnan struck for Moynalvey’s third goal blasting past Finn Hartford, putting nine points between the sides. Both sides added five points to their tallies before the full-time whistle, Moynalvey’s coming from Ciaran Harnan, Brian Conneely, David McLoughlin, Adam Rooney and a huge point from Darragh Branigan.
Next up for Moynalvey in round 7 is St. Peter’s Dunboyne on Friday June 14th.
Moynalvey:
David Brennan, Scott Tuite, Conor Egan, Anthony Brien, Eoin Corrigan, David Donoghue, Johnny Carey, John Donoghue, Brian Conneely (0-3), Darragh Brannigan (0-2), David McLoughlin (1-7, 1f), Eoghan Murphy, Aidan Gilsenan, James O’Neill (0-3, 1f), Adam Rooney (0-1).
Subs: Paul Conneely for J. Donoghue, Ciaran Harnan (1-1) for Brannigan, Brannigan for Tuite.
