Moynalvey won the Kepak Meath Ladies Junior ‘B’ Football Championship defeating Clonard on a 5-14 to 1-7 score line at Bective on Saturday evening 12th September.
Moynalvey 5-14
Clonard 1-7
It’s been eight years since Moynalvey Ladies team contested an adult final, winning the Junior ‘A’ Championship in 2012. Since then things having exactly ran smoothly, suffering a couple of relegations and often struggling for numbers.
2020 has been a strange year for everyone, but it has been a great one for Moynalvey Ladies claiming Saturday’s Junior B honours unusually having a panel big enough to fulfil two teams and still have a couple of subs for each team.
With the Covid restrictions of “Games Behind Closed Doors”, Many Thanks to Meath LGFA for providing the equipment to stream the game via their Facebook page, to our own Paul Corcoran operating the camera and despite a couple of technical issues to Robert Cox for providing excellent commentary for those who could not attend.
Moynalvey’s Tara Smith opened the scoring with a free in the first minute, with Clonard responding a minute later through Ella Reilly to level matters for the first and only time in the game.
Moynalvey were quick out of the blocks, opening up a 1-6 to 0-1 lead with eleven minutes played, with 1-1 from Tara Smith, 0-2 from Meabh Ahern, 0-2 from Siobhain Kelly and a point by Cheyenne O’Brien.
A Clonard comeback was offered some ray of hope when they scored a goal just before the first water break.
1-2 from Moynalvey full forward Siobhain Kelly, with her opposite number Louise Coyne pointing left the half time score board read 2-8 to 1-2 in favour of the girls in maroon and white.
Clonard started the second half in determined fashion racking up three unanswered points from Louise Coyne (2) and Ella Reilly. But for a couple of outstanding saves from Moynalvey ‘keeper Aoibheann Corcoran Clonard would have been right back in the game.
Having weathered the early 3rd quarter pressure Moynalvey went on to outscore Clonard 2-6 to 0-2 over the remainder of the game.
1-1 from Siobhain Kelly, 0-3 from Rachel Pender Elliott, a goal from Meabh Ahern and a Tara Smith free, 1-1 from Louise Donoghue with the penalty coming deep into injury time after missing one less than a minute earlier put that extra gloss on the score line to leave Moynalvey comfortable winners on a 5-14 to 1-7 score line.
While Moynalvey Ladies have been waiting a while for success, to the Clonard Ladies who have only been in existence a little over three years offering commiserations after losing a final doesn’t offer much solace but keep the heads up, you are a definitely a club climbing the ranks of Meath LGFA.
To already have won a championship in a short existence and then to contest another championship final in the grade above the following year it won’t be long until you climb the ladder of Meath Ladies Football further. Thanks for two sporting games in this year’s championship.
After the game Meath Ladies Board Vice-Chairperson Colm McManus presented the Player of the Match award to Aoibheann Corcoran, while David Coyne of competition sponsors Kepak presented the cup to Moynalvey captain Taylor Little.
Although a brilliant all round team performance, best for Moynalvey were Player of the match Aoibheann Corcoran, Abbie Killalea, Olivia O’Halloran, Cheyenne O’Brien, Louise Donoghue, Meabh Ahern, Siobhain Kelly and Rachel Pender-Elliott.
Congratulations Girls and to the Management team of Mick, Joe, Adrian and Jamesie.
Moynalvey:
Aoibheann Corcoran, Abbie Killelea, Mairead McCabe, Claire Kelly, Olivia O’Halloran, Aideen Smith, Fia O’Brien, Louise Donoghue (1-1, 1p), Cheyenne O’Brien (0-1), Meabh Ahern (1-2), Tara Smith (1-2, 2f), Ciara Thornton, Stephanie Walsh, Siobhain Kelly (2-5, 2f), Rachel Pender Elliott (0-3).
Subs used: Taylor Little, Ciara Donoghue, Cliodhna O’Sullivan, Rachel Garrett, Saoirse Corcoran, Sarah Kelly, Roisin Mallee.
