Moynalvey scraped a narrow two point victory on a 1-9 to 1-7 score line over St. Patricks in the final round group game in the Junior ‘B’ football championship played at Ashbourne on Friday evening August 30th.
Moynalvey 1-9 St. Patricks 1-7
Both teams came into this encounter pointless after the previous four rounds and it was Moynalvey who came out on top by two points, preserving their Junior ‘B’ status for 2014.
With a strong breeze behind their backs it was the Moynalvey men who used the elements to their advantage in the opening period. The side in maroon and white got off to the perfect start, finding the net after four minutes when veteran PJ Walsh coolly slotted home. Moynalvey’s early advantage could have been doubled only for a fine save from the Pats’ ‘keeper Kieron Russell to deny Robbie Quinlan from the penalty spot. Four points from placed balls from the accurate Quinlan gave Moynalvey a 1-4 to 0-00 lead after 19 minutes. Barry Campbell opened the Stamullen men’s account in the 23rd minute with a converted free. A further trio of Moynalvey points from PJ Walsh, Robbie Quinlan and Eamonn Walsh left the half time score board reading 1-7 to 0-1.
Just as St. Pats had found it difficult to score against the strong breeze in the opening half, Moynalvey also struggled in the second half and the Pats’ outscored the winners 1-6 to 0-2 in the second period. Moynalvey’s two second half points came from Ger Fagan and Quinlan. The win sees Moynalvey stay safe on two points while St. Pats face into relegation trouble. Best for Moynalvey were Anthony Brien, Brian Conneely and Eamonn Walsh.
Moynalvey: C. O’Malley, A. Brien, S. Whyte, J. Munnelly, B. Byrne, P. Conneely, J. Carey, G. Fagan (0-1), B. Conneely, S. Cummins, E. Walsh (0-1), R. Quinlan (0-6), PJ Walsh (1-1), C. Collins, D. Durkan.
Subs used: F. McCabe for Durkan, S. McGann for Cummins, S. Deering for Collins, P. Kelly for Byrne.
