Moynalvey defeated Oldcastle on a 1-10 to 1-8 score line in the JMB Sportsfield Div. 3 Final with a late surge deep into injury time securing victory in this game played on Friday night 14th October at Simonstown.
Moynalvey 1-10 Oldcastle 1-8
With both sides finishing level on 16 points and a closely contested game between the sides earlier in the league, little was ever going to separate these sides in the final.
Moynalvey pointed as early as 15 seconds with James O’Neill splitting the posts after being laid on for the score following a super solo run by David Reilly. Oldcastle opened their account in the 9th minute with midfielder Ronan Maguire pointing. Sixty seconds later O’Neill fielded a high ball before turning and blasting over for his and his side’s second score. Oldcastle’s Alan McCann converted a free in the 10th minute to leave it all square for a second time, 0-2 apiece.
The game’s first green flag was raised in the 11th minute when Oldcastle’s McCann was left one with Moynalvey stand in goalkeeper Padraig Donoghue, dispatching brilliantly to net giving Donoghue no chance. This gave Oldcastle the lead for the first time, one they weren’t to relinquish until the 4th minute of additional/injury time. Moynalvey’s O’Neill, his side’s sole scorer in the opening period, converted a free on the quarter hour mark with Ronan Maguire doing likewise for his side in the 18th minute to leave the goal between the sides, 1-3 to 0-3.
One of three first half goal chances for Moynalvey was spurned in the 23rd minute with Oldcastle goalie Patrick Kevin pulling off a point blank save from Ciaran Ennis. Moynalvey were left to rue these missed chances, with a paltry three points on the score board at the break and with Oldcastle adding two more points to their tally, Moynalvey trailed their opponents by five at half time, 1-5 to 0-3.
The half time introduction of Conor Harnan, Sean Duggan and Robbie Kiernan had an immediate impact for Moynalvey as within eight minutes of the restart the deficit was down to a point. Moynalvey began the second half as they began the first, with a piercing run by David Reilly setting up O’Neill for his fourth point of the evening. An Oldcastle free was countered again by a James O’Neill score in the 5th and 6th minutes of the half respectively. Moynalvey eventually had another scorer bar O’Neill on the score sheet in the 38th minute, with captain Darragh Branigan rising highest to fist home a goal mouth scramble, leaving the minimum between the sides, 1-6 to 1-5.
Oldcastle broke this Moynalvey momentum with two quick fire points, the first from a free and then Alan McCann to leave it 1-8 to 1-5 after 48 minutes, these proved to be Oldcastle’s last scores of the game. Moynalvey’s Ciaran Ennis opened his account in the 53rd minute and following a lengthy stoppage in play due to an injury to an Oldcastle player who was subsequently removed from the pitch Moynalvey’s James O’Neilll held his composure to convert a free leaving it 1-8 to 1-7 after 59 minutes of play.
Following a few injury stoppages, breaks in play due to squirmishs and several substitutions a considerate amount of injury time was added on by the referee. It was four minutes into this additional time Moynalvey drew level with O’Neill once again holding his nerve to draw the sides level for a third time.
Oldcastle would surely have wished for the full time whistle at this stage to bring the game to extra time. Momentum was completely on the side of the men in maroon and white and with still additional minutes to play, a sweeping move up the field involving Anthony Forde & Conor Harnan set up the experienced Ciaran Ennis who made no mistake in splitting the uprights, handing his side the lead for just the second time in this contest.
Oldcastle still had time for a couple of more attacks, but each time the danger was snuffed out by Moynalvey substitutes Johnny Carey & Robbie Kiernan. A superb point off the left wing by David Reilly in the ninth minute of additional time secured victory for Moynalvey over their North Meath opponents.
A proud Peter Collins presented the John Moran Cup to fellow club man and Moynalvey captain Darragh Branigan on behalf of Meath Co. Board in front of a large contingent of maroon and white supporters.
Best for the winners were Anthony Forde, Darragh Branigan, David Reilly, Ciaran Ennis, James O’Neill, Conor Harnan, Sean Duggan, Robbie Kiernan & Johnny Carey.
Moynalvey: Padraig Donoghue, Eoghan Mitchell, Shane Browne, Anthony Brien, Anthony Forde, David Donoghue, Darragh Branigan, Paul Conneely, Dominic O’Brien, David Reilly (0-1), John Donoghue, Ciaran Ennis (0-2), Conor Shirren, James O’Neill (0-7, 4f), Shaun Deering.
Subs: Robbie Kiernan for Mitchell, Sean Duggan for Conneely, Conor Harnan for O’Brien, Johnny Carey for Shirren, David Kane for Brien.
