As defeat looked on the cards for home side Moynalvey in this round 8 tie of the A League played at Kilmore Park on Tuesday evening May 31st they snatched a draw against neighbours & fellow Senior side Blackhall Gaels with a late injury time goal from James Weldon securing the point.
Moynalvey 3-6 Blackhall Gaels 0-15
Moynalvey went into this game knowing that a win would have leapfrogged them to joint top place in the Div. 2 table, however at the final whistle were glad of the point claimed, as having dominated the game and led from start to Weldon’s injury time goal Blackhall Gaels will feel somewhat aggrieved that they didn’t claim the two points on offer here.
Blackhall full forward Tadhg Brosnan proved a constant thorn to the Moynalvey defence in the opening period, sending over four points from play and along with the free taking expertise of Sean Whelan and points from Thomas Delaney & Graham Dillon the Batterstown/Kilcloon combination led 0-11 to 1-4 at half time. Moynalvey’s first half points came from Brian O’Reilly (2), James O’Neill & James Weldon and the goal a well executed finish by Shane Lenehan after a fine solo run down the centre of the Blackhall defence.
Moynalvey started the second period just as they had wanted with a James Weldon free after he had been fouled within sixty seconds of the restart, this was followed by a brace of Whelan frees for Blackhall. Moynalvey reduced the deficit to two on the three quarter hour mark when a sweeping move up the field resulted in Brian O’Reilly finding the net, leaving the score 0-13 to 2-5 in favour of the visitors.
Moynalvey’s rearguard tightened up in the second period limiting their opponents to just four points, while outscoring Blackhall 2-2 to 0-4 in the second period. A James Weldon free sandwiched between Blackhall points from Graham Dillon & Thomas Delaney left it 0-15 to 2-6 with four minutes of normal time remaining leaving Blackhall Gaels looking good for what would have been a well deserved win.
However with just the single score between the sides, Moynalvey went looking for that elusive third goal which duly arrived deep into injury time. A free from out the field was floated high into the danger area and James Weldon proved to be the hero of the hour when he rose highest to fist the ball to the net rescuing a point for the home side.
Moynalvey: C. Egan, D. Brennan, C. McCabe, D. Branigan, A. Forde, S. Donoghue, E. Walsh, B. Harnan, D. Smith, B. O’Reilly (1-2), Shane Lenehan (0-1), S. Duggan, J. O’Neill (0-1), J. Weldon (1-3, 3f), S. Deering. Subs: D. O’Brien for Deering, P. Conneely for Duggan.
