Moynalvey and Na Fianna proved inseparable in this Division 1 A League back league game played in Dunganny on Wednesday night 21st March.
Moynalvey 2-8
Na Fianna 1-11
If ever the cliché “a game of two halves” was applicable to a game, it was to this one.
Na Fianna dominated proceedings in the opening half, while it was Moynalvey’s turn in the second.
Trailing by eight points at half time and things looking bleak, Moynalvey produced an amazing ten point turnaround to lead by two points mid-way through the second half.
Despite playing against the breeze Na Fianna had opened up a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 12 minutes, with points from Daniel Queeney (2), Conor Downey and Barry Slevin, with Moynalvey’s opening score coming from a James Weldon free.
Darren Brennan added Moynalvey’s second point in the 13th minute, before Na Fianna’s Daniel Queeney was quickest to react to a rebound off the posts to send a low dribbled shot across the face of Moynalvey goal Keeper Ray Ryan’s net to leave it 1-4 to 0-2 on the quarter hour mark.
A trio of unanswered points from Na Fianna’s Michael Collins, Ethan Devine and Sean Martin left Moynalvey eight points adrift of their opponents after 24 minutes.
This game saw Moynalvey welcome back their county hurling contingent for the first time this year, with one of them Anthony Forde registering Moynalvey’s third point in the 25th minute.
A brace of Na Fianna points, this time from Queeney and Damien Downey extended their advantage to nine points, 1-9 to 0-3. Moynalvey’s James Weldon converted a free to leave the half time score reading 1-9 to 0-4.
A different Moynalvey team took to the field for the second half, playing with a lot more fluency, belief and intensity, which saw them outscore their opponents 2-4 to 0-2 in the second half.
Within 12 minutes of the restart Moynalvey had reeled in Na Fianna to draw level. Firstly the sheer power of an Eamon Walsh punt at goal saw his shot deflect to the corner of the net via the Na Fianna ‘keeper, then a point from Mark O’Sullivan was followed by a well taken James Weldon goal, which left the sides level for the first time, 2-6 to 1-9 after 42 minutes.
Thirty seconds later a second O’Sullivan point had Moynalvey ahead for the first time in the game and two minute later Moynalvey’s advantage was doubled with a Weldon free, leaving it 2-8 to 1-9 after 45 minutes.
Moynalvey’s next attack saw a gilt edge goal opportunity blazed wide of the posts in the 53rd minute, which could well have wrapped up the two points on offer. The men in maroon and white failed to score again in the final quarter, with an Ethan Devine point and huge free from the experienced Daniel Queeney salvaging a point for Na Fianna, with a full time score of 2-8 to 1-11.
While both sides may look on this as a point lost, it may well turn out to be a big point gained for each. The next round of league games sees Moynalvey host Gaeil Colmcille on Saturday, while Na Fianna travel to St. Colmcilles.
Moynalvey: Ray Ryan, Scott Tuite, Darren Brennan (0-1), Cathal McCabe, Fearghal McCabe, Brian Harnan, Anthony Forde (0-1), Donal Smith, Eamon Walsh (1-0), Stephen Donoghue, Shane Lenehan, John Donoghue, Sean Duggan, Mark O’Sullivan (0-2), James Weldon (1-4, 3f).
Sub: Padraig Kelly for Tuite.
