Rathkenny withstood a late late comeback from Moynalvey to hold on and win the All County Division 2 A football league title by the minimum under lights at Castletown.
Rathkenny 0-13 Moynalvey 0-12
On an ideal night for football it was the winners who made all the running in the early stages and were rewarded with fine points from Keith Timmons and Brian Meade. Mark O’Sullivan put Moynalvey on the scoreboard and with 15 minutes gone Rathkenny led 0-4 to 0-2.
Coalach Halligan got the first of his three points before Rathkenny keeper Colin Curtis produced two fine saves to keep Moynalvey from raising certain green flags. Martin and Mark O’Sullivan traded scores but Halligan and Martin extended the winners lead. Cillian O’Sullivan closed out the scoring in an entertaining first half as Rathkenny headed for the dressing rooms 0-7 to 0-4 in front.
Des Lane’s charges made a push for home in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. Four unanswered points from Halligan, Ivan Lineman, Jack Gore and Martin opened up a 0-11 to 0-4 lead. James Weldon and James Macken swapped points before Moynalvey found a new lease of life to dominate the closing stages.
Weldon kick started this revival with a fine point, Mark O’Sullivan added another and a brace from substitute James O’Neill, immediately after been introduced, narrowed the lead to three 0-12 to 0-9.
Jack Gore steadied the Rathkenny ship with a great point but that proved to be their last score with seven minutes remaining. Those final minutes belonged to Moynalvey. The O’Sullivan’s Cillian (2) and Mark had the lead down to the minimum as the game entered injury time. The Paul Harnan/Denis O’Shea outfit had two more chances to get something from the game but both efforts went wide and the Division 2 FL title was heading over the road to Rathkenny.
After the game County Board Vice Chairman Peter O’Halloran presented the Kevin McConnell Cup to Rathkenny captain Brian Meade.
Rathkenny scorers: Caolach Halligan and Thomas Martin 0-3 each, Jack Gore 0-2, Brian Meade, James Macken, Robbie Garry, Ivan Lenehan and Keith Timmons 0-1 each.
Moynalvey scorers: Mark O’Sullivan 0-4, Cillian O’Sullivan 0-3, James Weldon 0-3, James O’Neill 0-2
Match Report taken from www.Hoganstand.com/Meath
