Moylagh proved that league form counts for nothing when overcoming Moynalvey by 2 points in this championship opener in Bohermeen on Sunday, April 20th.
Moynalvey 1 – 8 Moylagh 1 – 10
Both teams had met in the league 2 weeks previously where Moynalvey emerged victorious but Moylagh threw the league formbook out the window with a strong second half performance to grab the 2 championship points on offer.
Moynalvey started brightest with the diagonal wind slightly in their favour and points from Brian Gilsenan and Robbie Quinlan (free) left it 0 – 2 to 0 – 0 after 10 minutes. Moylagh scored 2 points of their own to equalise but a James Weldon point put Moynalvey ahead again. Moynalvey then hit a purple patch and a Weldon through ball was crashed to the back of the Moylagh net by incoming midfielder Stephen Donoghue before points from Gilsenan and Ciaran Collins had Moynalvey 6 clear as the half time whistle approached. However a well taken Moylagh goal just on the stroke of half time left it 1 – 5 to 1 – 2 in Moynalvey’s favour at the break.
Moylagh came out strongly in the second period and set about reducing Moynalvey’s lead with Moynalvey hit by the loss of John Donoghue at half time due to injury. A Willie Byrne fisted point in response to 2 Moylagh scores left it 1 – 6 to 1 – 4 with 20 minutes remaining. Moylagh then upped a gear and scored 5 points in a row to surge 3 clear with 5 minutes remaining. Points from Moynalvey substitutes Cathal Sheridan (making his first appearance of the year) and Mark O’Sullivan (making his adult championship debut) left the minimum in it as the game went into added time. However, some wayward finishing and some great saves from the Moylagh keeper kept them ahead and indeed Moylagh were to win a penalty on the break in the final minute of the game, which they sensibly opted to put over the bar to secure a deserved victory.
Moynalvey have a lot of work to do before their next championship game with Meath Hill knowing they cannot afford any more slip ups in the group stage.
Team & scorers – O Regan, R Kiernan, P Donoghue, D Kane, P Weldon, D Dixon, A Brien, S Donoghue (1 – 0), J Donoghue, R Quinlan (0 – 1), C Collins (0 – 1), J Weldon (0 – 1), D Donoghue, W Byrne (0 – 1), B Gilsenan (0 – 2). Subs – G Fagan for J Donoghue, M O’Sullivan (0 – 1) for C Collins, C Sheridan (0 – 1) for J Weldon, J Donoghue for W Byrne.
